NDDC Begins Work On PH-Okrika Link Road ……Says Wike’s Comments, Push For Positive Change

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has assured that construction work would resume next week on the 3.65kilometre Borokiri-Okrika road to link the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt to Okrika communities and others in Eleme, Tai, Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas in the eastern flank of the state.
Managing Director of the commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who disclosed this at the NDDC Headquarters during his first official media chat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said that the new interventionist agency’s leadership was looking at legacy projects to quickly complete and commission.
Ogbuku was flanked by the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, (rtd), and other Directors, during the interactive media briefing.
The managing director said, “One of these projects is the construction of the 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borokiri Road with three bridges connecting Kolabi, Abotoru and Okpoka creeks to Port Harcourt,” adding that the link road was a very significant project for the people of the state.
He explained that talks between the NDDC and contractors for the project have been very fruitful, and assured that construction work would resume within a week.
The chief executive officer of the commission remarked: “The contractor has assured us that by next week, they will mobilise to site. They also assured us that the project will be completed in two years. We do not want to spread ourselves thin. We do not want to take on too many projects that we cannot complete in good time.”
Ogbuku also noted that due to the long delay in execution and completion of the project, there may be the urgency to review the value upward from the initial sum of N16.5billion cost as at the time of signing the contract several years ago to reflect present economic realities.
He noted that another big ticket project under the Converting Liabilities To Assets Initiative would be the construction of dams to check perennial flooding in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states as a pilot scheme.
Ogbuku emphasised that apart from harnessing the abundant water bodies causing havoc and destroying livelihoods in communities in the Niger Delta, the dams would also generate electricity for the affected states, leveraging on the Federal Government’s liberalisation policy in the power sector.
The NDDC, he added, was also concluding designs for emergency holding centres to provide comfortable shelter to thousands of vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) by persistent flooding in communities in the affected states, stressing that the centres would be equipped with schools, water, sanitation and health facilities to cater to the urgent needs of victims of natural disasters.
He further stated that future relief materials for victims of flooding and other natural disasters, who take refuge at the emergency holding centres, would be presented to the beneficiaries directly at the facilities rather than going through governments and emergency relief agencies as a means of reducing bureaucracy while achieving quick impact.
Ogbuku assured the readiness of NDDC under his watch to work in synergy with the nine state governments to achieve integrated sustainable development of the region, saying that the commission was already working with representatives of all the cat mentioned state governments in its budgeting process to avoid duplication of projects and responsibilities while harnessing scarce resources for the benefit of the people.
On the way forward, he stated that establishing an effective and sustainable Corporate Governance system as well as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the commission will be a game changer for the commission.
He noted that having an effective Corporate Governance system in place was key to the future successes and sustainability of the NDDC.
The chief executive officer affirmed that the commission was laying a solid foundation for impactful development of the Niger Delta region; strengthening Public-Private Partnerships and ensuring that its projects and programmes were aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people of the region.
He said: “In the past six months, NDDC has been engaged in building a sustainable foundation to ensure that we run on a smooth and right track. We are working to put in place a Corporate Governance System that will enable the commission run in accordance with global best practices.”
The NDDC boss declared: “Once there is Corporate Governance system, you cannot beat it. That means you must be subjected to the processes and procedures. That is the game changer for us. We want to regulate ourselves internally. That is why we must establish a Corporate Governance system.
“Whenever we go out seeking for partnerships, one thing these prospective partners and donor agencies look out for is our internal control system. We are willing to be internally regulated. So, we need to establish a Corporate Governance system. We are talking with KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to help us establish a sustainable Corporate Governance system.”
On the state of the commission, he said that on assumption of duties, the current Executive Management realised that the commission was working with many Directorates with overlapping functions.
Many of the Directorates, he said, were not created to enhance service delivery of the commission but were set up for some ethnic and political interests.
Ogbuku noted: “I met about 30 Directorates as against the 13 provided for in the Act establishing the NDDC. Today, merit is our watchword and the over 30 Directorates have been reduced to the 13 Directorates stated in the NDDC Act.”
He noted the Policy Dialogue opportunity held in Abuja recently, adding that learnings from the forum would help the management fashion strategic policies and take decisions which results would make a difference in the lives of the people.
The MD also noted some new initiatives such as project HOPE designed to drive programmes and engagements to develop database for capacity building and empowerment of youths and women through technical and vocational training in various skills, and Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to mobilise and support small and medium entrepreneurs to grow the economy of the region.
Ogbuku urged youths of the region to guard against scammers and register for project HOPE free of charge through the dedicated portal, while advising potential entrepreneurs to join the chamber and take advantage of the window to boost their businesses and grow the economy of the region.
While responding to questions, he said that the recent comments on the commission’s activities by former Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, serves as a push for positive change in driving the development process in the Niger Delta region.
He commended the former governor for the milestones he achieved in urban centre modernization, stating that his remarks about the NDDC will spur the commission to positively change the narrative about the interventionist agency.
Ogbuku stated: “We will not join issues with former Governor Nyesom Wike. He has done well for the people of Rivers State, especially in the area of urban modernisation. Rather, we are spurred by his comments to change the narrative about the NDDC positively.”

By: Nelson Chukwudi