By Jimitota Onoyume

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC , has strengthened  its corporate governance system  to  among other gains enhance smooth internal operations.

Chairman of the commission , Mr Chiedu Ebie,  disclosed this  in a statement  made available to the Vanguard by his media aide ,  Jerome Mario-Utomi ,  noting  that  the Commission  has also  started implementing a new governance structure designed  by KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to ensure accountability and effective performance.

Ebie spoke at the NDDC’s 2025 Budget Conference and Partners for Sustainable Development, PSD, Forum  in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. He said  the   institutional culture of the commission  was anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance.

The  statement signed by the Director Corporate Affairs of the commission , Seledi Thompson-Wakama,  said the Ministry of Regional Development  applauded the “NDDC, for its inclusive budgeting process, which actively engages stakeholders in the development of the Niger Delta region.”

The statement reads :”Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, praised the Commission for aligning its budgeting process with the provisions of extant laws.

“Commending the NDDC for convening key stakeholders to collaborate on the 2025 budget, she stated, “This conference reflects a collective commitment to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta. It presents an atmosphere conducive to achieving an effective budgeting system for the NDDC, in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“As members of the Regional Development Commission, we do not merely oversee budgets; we shape destinies. If you are not seeing yourself as such before now, I plead with you to begin to see yourself as a custodian of your regional growth, guardian of its resources and promoter of its future.

“How we spend reflects what we believe in. Budgets are more than financial instruments; they reveal, in clear terms, the values we prioritise and the future we aspire to build. A mirror of our values and a map for the future.

“Ogbe emphasised the need for innovative, transparent, and participatory budgeting practices to ensure that available resources are maximally deployed to meet the region’s most pressing needs.

“In his address, NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, highlighted the Commission’s renewed focus on partnerships and the needs of the region. He noted: “The budget is for the people of the Niger Delta. A needs assessment is periodically conducted to ensure that projects meet the needs of the people. For example, Operation Light Up the Niger Delta is born out of a need for improved illumination in the communities of the Niger Delta.

“We are building strong collaborations in both the private and public sectors to deliver meaningful and lasting infrastructure,” he said, citing ongoing work with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, on the Kaa-Ataba road and bridge. The project, he revealed, is the longest bridge in Rivers State and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Echoing this, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, noted the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that the 2025 Budget reflects the needs and aspirations of the people of the region.

“He stated: “I applaud the NDDC leadership for convening this crucial budget conference with all of the key players in our region. It takes dedicated work and collaboration to address the Region’s problems.

“The leadership of the National Assembly is committed to making sure that the 2025 Budget represents the needs of our people, particularly now that we have a stable, goal-oriented NDDC.

“Representing traditional institutions, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, King Felix Mujakperuo, called for a seamless handover of community-based projects to ensure that they were properly maintained.”