The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has revealed that it has completed about 7,000 projects worth more than 1.66 trillion naira so far in the Niger Delta region, with another 6,000 projects currently underway.
Established on June 5, 2000 by Act No. 6 of the Niger Delta Development Commission, 2000, the NDDC is the federal agency with sole authority for the development of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region. The commission also announced that 6,000 projects underway in the region are worth more than 1.5 trillion naira, adding that the agency has signed over 5 trillion naira worth of contracts since the establishment of the NDDC.
This was announced in Abuja during a day-long policy dialogue with development partners and donor bodies organized by the Commission in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. In a presentation at the event, the Chairman NDDC-Public Private Partnership Committee, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, said, “The NDDC has completed over 7,000 projects since inception, valued at N1.66tn.
“Also, over 6,000 projects are ongoing across various locations in the Niger Delta region and these projects are valued at over N1.5tn.”
He stated that the value of the total contracts awarded by the agency since it was established was N5.2tn, whereas the agency had received just about N2.5tn from inception, adding that the sum include staff salaries, executed projects, etc.
Audu-Ohwavborua told donors and partners at the event that over N200bn worth of renewable energy projects had been completed and ongoing to attract carbon credit to the region. The Managing Director, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the dialogue was organised to get the collaboration of stakeholders and development partners in promoting greater synergy for enhanced result in the oil-rich region.
He explained that the NDDC policy dialogue was part of a deliberate effort by the commission to deepen relationships with development partners and the private sector to close gaps in sustainable development in the region. “We do this by coordinating our development work to improve effectiveness and impact,” Ogubuku explained.
Undersecretary of the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Shuaib Bergore said the dialogue was one of many strategies by the ministry and the NDDC to “accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region through off-budget commitments.” . It aims to meet the socio-economic needs of the region. “
“The platform will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to jointly review our past development efforts in the region and design a new and robust roadmap based on integrity and corporate governance structures,” he added. I believe,” he added.
