NDDC: A board that lives above board

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

When the Federal Government, on November 29, 2023, inaugurated the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the message from the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, was unambiguous: the new board must depart from the practices of the past, embrace accountability and deliver tangible development to the people of the Niger Delta.

The minister’s charge was more than a ceremonial exhortation. It was a call for a fundamental change in the way the Commission conducts its affairs, executes projects, manages public resources and responds to the legitimate aspirations of the people it was established to serve.

Speaking at the inauguration, Momoh reminded the board members of their responsibility to translate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into measurable outcomes, particularly in the areas of food security, poverty reduction, inclusiveness, job creation, the fight against corruption and respect for the rule of law.

He also urged the board to reconsider the fate of abandoned projects and explore ways of addressing the outstanding payments owed to local contractors with claims below ₦30 million, subject to verification of completed work.

The message was clear: the Niger Delta needed a development commission that would move beyond promises, confront inherited challenges and deliver results.

Today, the performance of the Governing Board, under the chairmanship of Mr Chiedu Ebie, offers compelling grounds for arguing that the board has not only embraced the spirit of that inaugural charge but has also taken practical steps towards fulfilling its promises.

Through infrastructure delivery, the revival of legacy projects, strategic partnerships and renewed attention to development planning, the Commission is demonstrating a commitment to a more results-oriented approach.

Indeed, the emerging story of the Ebie-led board is that of a leadership determined to live above board. One of the most credible ways to assess a development institution is to examine what it has delivered and how its interventions affect the daily lives of citizens.

Under the present Governing Board and Management, the NDDC has continued to pursue projects designed to improve connectivity, expand access to electricity, strengthen community infrastructure and stimulate economic activities across its nine mandate states.

In May 2024, the Commission commissioned five major infrastructure projects across the region. Among them was the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia–Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company. The project includes seven bridges and provides a vital connection to communities that have historically faced transportation difficulties.

The Commission also delivered the 9-kilometre Obehie–Oke-Ikpe Road in Abia State, the Iko–Atabrikang–Akata–Opulom–Ikot Inwang–Okoroutip–Iwochang Road and Ibeno Bridge in Akwa Ibom State, as well as major electricity infrastructure serving communities in Ondo and Edo states.

These projects are important because development is not measured merely by the amount of money allocated to public infrastructure. Its true value lies in the opportunities created for farmers, traders, commuters, small businesses and communities whose economic prospects depend on reliable roads and electricity.

For residents of previously isolated communities, an accessible road can mean faster journeys to hospitals, improved access to markets and lower transportation costs. For businesses, dependable electricity infrastructure can support productivity and expand commercial opportunities.

The significance of these interventions, therefore, extends beyond the physical structures themselves. They represent investments in livelihoods, mobility and regional economic integration. The NDDC’s own account of these achievements provides a useful record of the projects delivered under the current leadership.

Perhaps one of the most important tests of leadership in the Niger Delta is the ability to confront the persistent problem of abandoned projects.

Across the region, communities have endured the frustration of seeing development projects initiated with great expectations only to remain unfinished for years. Such situations waste public resources, undermine confidence in government and deprive communities of essential services.

The present NDDC leadership has placed renewed emphasis on completing legacy projects, reflecting the presidential directive that ongoing infrastructure should be brought to fruition rather than allowing new announcements to overshadow unfinished commitments.

A notable example is the Kaa–Ataba Road and Bridge project in Rivers State, linking the Khana and Andoni local government areas. The project had been stalled for years before construction resumed in January 2025.

Its revival is particularly significant for communities separated by waterways, where transportation difficulties have affected commerce, movement and access to essential services. Upon completion, the road and bridges are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and reduce the risks associated with crossing the river.

By May 2026, the Commission reported that construction of the 1.2-kilometre bridge had reached an advanced stage, with further work underway to accelerate delivery. Although completion must ultimately be judged by the finished project and its performance, the resumption and substantial advancement of construction represent important steps towards resolving a long-standing infrastructure challenge.

The lesson is straightforward: responsible leadership does not abandon difficult projects simply because they are inherited. It examines the obstacles, mobilises the necessary resources and works towards completion. This approach aligns directly with the minister’s original appeal for a change in the NDDC narrative. While roads and bridges are essential, meaningful regional development must also address the immediate needs of communities.

In June 2025, the NDDC commissioned four projects in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State: a police station, a health centre, a recreation centre and a 4.5-kilometre Egbelebie Road network. The projects illustrate the importance of combining large-scale infrastructure with facilities that directly support community wellbeing, public safety, healthcare and social interaction.

A health centre brings medical services closer to residents. A police station can strengthen local security arrangements, while a road network improves accessibility and movement within the community. These interventions also demonstrate why development should not be understood exclusively in terms of spectacular projects or expensive construction contracts. Sometimes, the facilities that make the greatest difference to ordinary people are those that address everyday problems within their immediate surroundings.

The commissioning of the Okrika projects is documented in the Commission’s official records and provides concrete evidence of its continuing community-level interventions. For a region with diverse development challenges, this combination of strategic infrastructure and local interventions is essential.

Another important development under the Ebie-led board is the attention given to strategic planning and stakeholder participation.

In February 2025, the NDDC announced the adoption of a new stakeholder-generated Regional Development Master Plan to replace the previous 15-year plan, which expired in 2020. This development matters because sustainable regional transformation requires more than isolated projects scattered across different communities. It requires a coherent framework that identifies priorities, coordinates investments and ensures that development interventions reflect the needs and long-term aspirations of the people.

At its 2025 Board and Management Strategic Retreat, the Commission also emphasised better integration with the states of the Niger Delta to ensure that projects are conceived and aligned with regional priorities. Such coordination can help reduce duplication, improve the use of limited resources and strengthen the relationship between the NDDC and other institutions responsible for development in the region.

The adoption of a stakeholder-generated master plan is particularly relevant to Ebie’s inauguration promise that the board would examine the Commission’s history and align its original vision with contemporary realities. It signals an understanding that sustainable development must be planned, coordinated and continuously evaluated rather than driven solely by immediate considerations.

The Niger Delta’s development challenges are too extensive for any single institution to address in isolation. The NDDC’s partnership with Shell on the Ogbia–Nembe Road demonstrates how collaboration with private-sector organisations can contribute to the delivery of major infrastructure.

Similarly, in July 2025, the Commission announced a partnership with Nigeria LNG Limited to facilitate the completion of the 27.1-kilometre Bonny Ring Road and Bridges in Rivers State. Such partnerships are important because they can mobilise additional resources, improve coordination and help accelerate projects with significant economic and social benefits.

The Bonny Ring Road, in particular, has the potential to strengthen transportation within Bonny Island and improve connections among surrounding communities. Its ultimate contribution will depend on successful completion, but the partnership represents a practical approach to addressing infrastructure needs through collaboration.

Equally noteworthy is the recognition the Commission has received. In March 2025, the NDDC was named Interventionist Agency of the Year 2024 by Daily Independent newspaper. While awards should never replace independent assessments of performance, such recognition offers an additional indication that the Commission’s activities have attracted public attention. More importantly, the award itself presents a responsibility to sustain and improve the standards that earned the recognition.

Ultimately, the most enduring test of the Ebie-led Governing Board will not be the number of ceremonies attended, the volume of announcements made or the accolades received. It will be the extent to which its decisions translate into lasting improvements in the lives of Niger Deltans. The board must continue to insist on transparent procurement, effective project monitoring, value for money, timely contractor payments where legitimately due and the completion of projects to the required standards.

It must also ensure that development interventions are distributed fairly across the nine mandate states, guided by demonstrable needs rather than narrow interests.

Communities deserve clear information about project costs, implementation timelines and expected outcomes. Contractors must be held accountable for quality and delivery, while public resources must be protected against waste and abuse. These expectations are not arguments against the board. They are the standards that will consolidate its achievements and protect its credibility.

The challenge is particularly important because the Niger Delta’s development deficit remains substantial. Roads still require rehabilitation, communities still need reliable electricity, healthcare and educational facilities remain essential, and young people continue to need opportunities for employment and productive enterprise. The Commission must therefore maintain the momentum of its current interventions while strengthening the systems that make development sustainable.

Finally, the inauguration of the present NDDC Governing Board came with an unmistakable challenge: change the narrative and deliver a different result.

Under Chiedu Ebie’s chairmanship, the Commission has recorded tangible infrastructure milestones, revived important legacy projects, commissioned community facilities, pursued strategic partnerships and adopted a new regional development planning framework. These are meaningful steps that provide a basis for a positive assessment of the board’s performance.

The emerging evidence suggests a Governing Board that understands the importance of translating policy into practical interventions and of working with management and development partners to advance the interests of the Niger Delta. That is why the description of the present board as one that lives above board carries significance. It expresses the expectation that public office must be defined by responsibility, integrity, measurable performance and a commitment to the common good.

Nevertheless, the board’s strongest defence will always be its record of completed projects, transparent administration and visible improvements in the lives of ordinary people.

For Chiedu Ebie and his colleagues, the task is now to consolidate the gains, address outstanding challenges and ensure that every investment brings the Niger Delta closer to the prosperity its people deserve. If the current momentum is sustained, the Ebie-led Governing Board will have a stronger claim to distinction—not merely for the promises it made at inauguration, but for the results it delivered afterwards.

And a board lives above board when its integrity is reflected in its actions, its promises are matched by performance and its achievements are measured by the people whose lives it is mandated to improve.