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The Niger Delta Development Commission will complete a 21-kilometer road linking three states in record time, the agency’s managing director said during an inspection tour in Imo State.
Dr Samuel Ogbuku expressed satisfaction with construction progress on the Ehime-Nguru-Aba Branch-Mpam-Umuokirika-Ekwereazu Road while visiting a section in Ahiauzu Mbaise. He said the second phase would be awarded soon.
The route traverses Ehime Mbano local government area in Imo State along with portions of Abia and Rivers states, connecting three of the commission’s mandate states. Within Imo, the road crosses four local government areas: Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise and Ngor Okpala.
Ogbuku said the Ahiara-Ngor Okpala segment would also be awarded, predicting it would stimulate local commerce once finished.
He thanked residents of Ahiauzu Mbaise for their reception and said the commission remained committed to completing the project as part of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Executive Director for Projects Dr Victor Antai accompanied Ogbuku during the inspection.
Eze Dr O. Nwandu, traditional ruler of Ihitteaforukwu Kingdom, spoke on behalf of local leaders from Ahiazu Mbaise and Ehime Mbano.
He credited the current board and management with driving rapid development across the Niger Delta and noted the road had been impassable for 15 years.
“This corridor is a vital economic and social lifeline, facilitating agricultural activities, trade, inter-community movement, and access to essential services, and this intervention by the NDDC will deliver high-impact benefits across multiple communities, Local Government Areas and states,” Nwandu said.
He described the road as having symbolized neglect and hardship for years before what he characterized as visionary leadership restored hope through timely intervention.
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Separately, the commission announced adoption of new standard operating procedures and governance advisory policies approved by its governing board.
The measures were outlined in a communique issued following a three-day management retreat at Landmark Events Centre in Owerri, Imo State.
The documents will function as the commission’s rule book and strictly guide all processes and operations, according to the communique. The retreat operated under the theme “Consolidating Performance and Repositioning the Commission for Strategic Impact in 2026.”
Executive directors for finance and administration, projects and corporate services attended along with all commission directors. Alabo Boma Iyaye serves as executive director for finance and administration while Otunba Ifedayo Abegunde holds the corporate services position.
The retreat identified leadership overload as an issue that can be addressed through strict adherence to standard operating procedures. To reduce leadership misalignment, staff will be deployed according to expertise and specific skills gaps will be addressed through training, the communique stated.
Participants emphasized establishing clear mentoring systems and succession planning.
The commission will comply with accountability frameworks to help staff understand their roles and align services toward organizational goals, according to the document.
“To reinforce good behaviour, the Commission’s performance management systems should be clear on rewards for individuals and teams. The Commission must ensure the enforcement of staff discipline in line with appropriate Public Service Rules and the SOPs,” the communique stated.
Communication channels should be enhanced to ensure official information flows from leadership without bypassing superior staff in directorates, departments and units, participants agreed. Regular meetings by respective units should bridge communication gaps.
The retreat called for empowering mission-critical roles including strengthening state offices, enhanced women’s empowerment programs and proper project sustainability plans.
Participants said the commission should lead in institutionalizing developmental planning by commencing full implementation of the revised Niger Delta Regional Master Plan, anchored on seven pillars from the Sustainable Development Goals. Board and management actions should align with the master plan, which becomes a tool for measurable impact in 2026.
The commission must sustain continuous stakeholder engagement for strategic impact that aligns with stakeholder needs, the communique stated.
To ensure effective performance systems and implementation of operating procedures, the commission must provide every staff member with clearly defined job descriptions.
Post-intervention evaluation must be conducted to create effective feedback mechanisms for projects and programs, participants agreed.
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To enable payment of legacy debts, the commission needs to explore revenue sources beyond government and oil and gas companies by pursuing partnerships using other regional resources, the communique stated.
The commission must conduct needs assessments before project conception to ensure ownership by beneficiaries and optimal facility utilization.
Greater emphasis should be placed on monitoring and evaluation, particularly after project completion, to obtain proper feedback on projects and programs.
Project data should be harmonized to determine status of all commission projects and clearly indicate which are completed and which remain ongoing.
Beyond social components, the commission should incorporate economic considerations and invest in emerging clean energy technologies, participants concluded.
Resource persons delivered presentations on topical issues while participants discussed challenges facing the commission and proposed solutions during interactive sessions. The resolutions followed these presentations and discussions.
