Tinubu Charges NDDC to Fastrack Completion of Critical Projects in Niger Delta
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to fast-track the completion of all abandoned critical projects across the Niger Delta region, underscoring the strategic importance of timely infrastructure delivery to national development.
Addressing the plenary at the 25th‑anniversary celebrations of the NDDC held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on July 12 and 13, 2025, President Tinubu represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalising the region.
He described the Niger Delta as “the goose that lays the golden egg,” emphasizing that sustainable growth in Nigeria hinges on the prosperity and functionality of this vital region.
In his address, Tinubu announced that through the Minister of Regional Development, the NDDC board and management were now instructed to complete a series of key legacy infrastructure projects. These include, among others, the Kaa‑Ataba Bridge, Okrika‑Borokiri Bridge, Bonny Ring Road, Gbaregolo roads and bridges, and the East‑West Sampou roads and bridges.
He also highlighted the 750‑kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project as a flagship initiative that will offer an alternative to the traditional East–West Road, enhance regional connectivity, stimulate trade and unlock new opportunities in eco‑tourism and the blue economy within the hydrocarbon belt.
President Tinubu further called for a continued focus on human capital development via initiatives that directly benefit rural communities.
He praised the NDDC’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” programme, which has reduced night crime, extended trading hours, improved community security, and enhanced social life across the region.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking at the same event, echoed the need for enduring legacy projects rather than politically motivated short‑term ones.
He stressed that frequent changes in NDDC leadership have often disrupted continuity, resulting in project abandonment and underperformance.
Likewise, Senate President Godswill Akpabio pointed to internal corruption and leadership instability as major constraints on the NDDC’s effectiveness. He cited excessive rental expenses and poorly conceived diesel energy contracts in areas lacking grid access as symptomatic of systemic mismanagement.
At the press conference marking the NDDC’s silver jubilee in Asaba, Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku acknowledged that past instability within the board had hindered project execution. Yet he affirmed that the commission had begun resolving legacy issues and would continue to accelerate implementation of inherited projects—even though he noted that effectively addressing retroactive project abandonment would take time.
Ogbuku also promised leadership accountability under the current stewardship, and zero tolerance for project abandonment moving forward. He outlined a broader development strategy encompassing rural roads, schools, healthcare initiatives, solar streetlights, internships, scholarships, and interventions targeting flooding and erosion control in collaboration with state governments.
President Tinubu commended the NDDC’s current leadership for improved service delivery and urged them to sustain the momentum by continuing to deliver high-impact programmes grounded in community needs and sustainability.
As the NDDC embarks on the next phase of delivering viable infrastructure, stakeholders await tangible progress. With renewed directives and a sharpened mandate, the presidential call aims to assure Niger Deltans—and the nation at large—that the era of abandoned projects may indeed be entering its final chapter.
