NDDC explains aggressive states office development
…Says it’s to enhance development delivery in the states
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has explained reasons behind aggressive development of offices in the partner states instead of rented office system.
The Commission tested the new offices approach when it built the Rivers State office on Olu Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt in 2016. The Commission then explained many benefits of the initiative.
Now, with the leadership of Samuel Ogbuku and his team, the Commission has resolved to pursue state offices development as a deliberate policy.
Thus, a symbolic edifice for grassroots development was added to the skylines of Warri with the recent commissioning of a model state office of the Commission in the oil and gas hub of Delta State.
Management said moving into its own home represents a renewed move by NDDC to decentralise its operations, enhance service delivery, and reaffirm its core mission of transforming the oil-rich Delta into a region of shared prosperity and sustainable development.
The modern facility in Warri has been aptly described as a symbol of progress and institutional renewal.
NDDC has rented offices in its nine states except in Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states. The offices serve as a bridge between the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt and the local communities.
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Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State Governor, who commissioned the Warri office complex, maintained that it is a symbol of “shared commitment to development, inclusion, and service delivery.”
According to him, “The project is a clear reflection of purposeful governance, and actual progress happens when institutions work together to bring impact closer to the people.”
Oborevwori commended the NDDC boss for his visionary leadership and commitment to development, stating that the new office would reinforce institutional stability and renewed purpose.
The governor further lauded President Bola Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it had strengthened state finances, fostered inclusivity, and restored public confidence in governance.
The governor called for strategic alliance between the NDDC and state governments to rehabilitate critical federal roads across the region, and indicated readiness to partner with the NDDC on the Omadino-Warri-Escravos Road. He disclosed that a joint meeting between the state government, Chevron, and the Commission was already scheduled for first week of November 2025 to outline the next steps.
In his remarks, Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Regional Development, stated that President Tinubu had directed the NDDC to complete all abandoned projects in the region.
He cited successes such as the restoration of electricity in Okitipupa in Ondo State after 15 years and the construction of key bridges and substations.
Also speaking, Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the NDDC governing Board, reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with Delta and other Niger Delta states to achieve sustainable development.
He averred: “A key example is the adoption of KPMG’s working document, which now guides our implementation processes and internal reforms.”
On his part, Ogbuku, the NDDC CEO, said the new Delta State office in Delta signified the Commission’s shift from transaction to transformation, adding that it would serve as a hub for improved service delivery.
He declared: “We are ambassadors of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. What you see here today is proof that we are inspired to deliver real results.”
The NDDC boss stated that the era of abandoned projects in the Niger Delta was over, stressing that the Commission was now focused on completing all inherited projects across the region.
Ogbuku highlighted the gains from the collaboration between NDDC and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) on ₦650 billion worth of infrastructure projects and assured that the NDDC was committed to timely project completion.
He also confirmed that President Tinubu has funded the NDDC more than any President since the agency was created.
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Ogbuku also acknowledged the unwavering support of the National Assembly, noting that they have consistently supported the Commission by ensuring the timely passage of Appropriation Bills, which has enabled the management to deliver more effectively.
He noted that the new office represents more than a physical structure; “It is a hub for innovation, transparency, and closer engagement with communities.”
Ogbuku stated: “Today, we celebrate the institutionalisation of the NDDC in Delta State, and we are pleased to see the people of Warri turn out in large numbers to witness this historic occasion. This marks the third state office we have commissioned, starting with Cross River State, followed by Bayelsa, and now Delta State.”
Victor Antai, the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, gave the project brief and the new office complex is actually a prototype of the one in Rivers State, commissioned on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, by Ibim Semenitari, the then Acting Managing Director.
He recalled that on that occasion, Semenitari had expressed relief that the NDDC staff in the Rivers State office could work in an elaborate environment deliberately textured for maximum output.
She had stated: “As we commission the Rivers State office, we celebrate a significant milestone and our commitment to making a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region and our staff. We decided to ensure that we exit all rented accommodation at the headquarters and across all the states to enable us to conserve scarce resources, which we should be using to develop our communities.
“The NDDC is transforming the skyline of our host communities for the better. This edifice was designed and completed with the staff in mind. It has provisions for several facilities, including a large reception hall, conference/multi-purpose hall for 250 people, staff canteen, sick bay and offices for drivers on the ground floor. Each of its four floors has ample space for offices.
According to Semenitari, “The Rivers State Office would accommodate about 120 members of staff, with unique office suites for the State Representative and the Director of the state office. Additionally, it includes provisions for key Head Office Directorates. It is indeed a worker’s delight!
“I saw that the workers of the Commission needed an office accommodation that would support their specific needs. We soon hit the ground running, tasking both the contractor and the project consultant with an exit date. I concluded that if we must demand absolute service from the Rivers State office workers to the Commission and, by implication, to the people, we must provide them with the tools.
In his goodwill message, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, commended the NDDC Board and Management and urged them not to rest on their oars.
Speaking in a similar vein, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, congratulated the NDDC management for significantly impacting the lives of Niger Deltans.
For Ned Nwoko, a senator, the new office complex “reflects the renewed commitment to efficient service delivery, transparency, and people-centred governance in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Sharing this sentiment, Anthony Ofoni, the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, affirmed that the NDDC’s new structure is a symbol of renewed collaboration between the Federal and State Governments aimed at attracting more development to the state, thereby improving the lives of people at the grassroots.
