Media executives from across the country were shocked at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they came face to face with an array of well-executed projects and other programmes aimed at turning around the story of the oil-rich region. It was at a first-ever region-wide media tour of projects and interaction with the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Most of those who spoke from the media expressed surprise at the enthusiasm, confidence and free-flowing narrative of account of activities of the present board of the Commission and admitted that there appears total change of what they use to know.

This came following the speech of the management team, led by the MD/CEO, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who said the Commission was committed to the completion and commissioning of all on-going projects across the Niger Delta region.

Speaking through a virtual presentation at the NDDC’s region-wide media engagement, Ogbuku said that the recent inauguration of five mega projects in Abia, Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states was a testimony of the new passion with which the Commission was delivering on its mandate.

The NDDC Chief Executive stated that President Bola Tinubu had charged the Commission to complete and commission signature projects that would impact the lives of Niger Deltans.

Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had so far inaugurated the 132/33kv electricity sub-station at Ode-Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, to light up five local government areas in the state, as well as the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, which we executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

He said that the NDDC also inaugurated the 600-meter Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang Road, in Ibeno Local Government Area, of Akwa Ibom State, as well as the 9-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

Taking the media executives on a virtual tour of NDDC projects, the Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antia, said that the Commission had constructed and rehabilitated 5,141.3 kilometres of roads through swamps and virgin forests. He added that the Commission had also built 42 bridges, thousands of hydraulic structures and 87 jetties across the Niger Delta region.

He said that the Commission had resumed its Free Healthcare Programme which caters to the needs of rural communities, as part of the Commission’s commitment to enhance healthcare delivery to the people of the Niger Delta region.

“In the on-going free medical outreach across the nine Niger Delta states, 20,000 surgeries have been performed, while 45,000 patients have been attended to and 27,000 eyeglasses distributed,” he said.

In the education sector, he highlighted the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme of the Commission, noting that 2,323 students in the region had so far benefited from it. He added: “We have commenced the process for the 2024/2025 scholarship programme.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the NDDC Executive Director Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, acknowledged the contributions of the media to the growth of democracy and public accountability.

He said: “Today, NDDC is setting a landmark precedent in its engagement with the Press. This strategic engagement is in line with the new management’s mantra of Transition from Transactions to Transformation (TTT). Consequently, the management of NDDC has decided to transit from sectional engagement with the Press to a more elaborate and strategic engagement to solidify our partnership and strengthen our bond with the press.

“The current Governing Board and Management under the able leadership of Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Chairman and Managing Director, respectively, is poised on establishing a sustainable partnership with the Press through periodic region-wide media engagement while promoting good journalism within the remit of our mandate as an interventionist agency.

“In the bid to achieve the Commission’s vision for the good people of our region, we need the press to tell our impactful stories and communicate our aspirations in the most accurate and effective way. One which has always been to see that people of the Niger Delta live a better life.

Speaking at the media event, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba, remarked that the NDDC slogan which said: “Transiting from Transaction to Transformation,” was inspiring and forward looking.

He observed: “It is reassuring that the NDDC is speaking confidently about its achievements