Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has declared that funding to the agency has significantly improved under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ogbuku made the revelation during a speech in Asaba, Delta State, as part of activities marking 25 years of the NDDC.
He said firms that previously ignored their statutory contributions to the commission are now stepping up since the inauguration of the new board by the President.
“The board is operating in full alignment with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ogbuku stated. “We are under clear directive to prioritize and complete abandoned projects that matter most to the people.”
He emphasized that while the Commission cannot legally scrap ongoing contracts, it is restructuring priorities and engaging contractors to ensure critical infrastructure gets completed.
“We cannot just wake up and chase contractors off sites,” Ogbuku explained. “These are legal agreements backed by the Procurement Act. Some projects require negotiation; others may be re-awarded after mutual understanding.”
The NDDC MD also spoke on gully erosion, a major challenge in states like Delta and Edo, stressing the agency is coordinating with state governments to launch holistic erosion control projects.
“We are not just patching problems. We’re tackling erosion as a long-term crisis, in full compliance with the president’s directive.”
No Gubernatorial Ambitions, Focus is on Tinubu’s Re-election
Amid rising speculation over his political ambitions, Ogbuku dismissed reports that he plans to run for governor.
“Let me be clear: I never told anyone I’m contesting any election,” he said. “The only election I care about is President Tinubu’s reelection.”
He urged supporters and politicians to stop distracting him with campaign posters and instead channel their energy into helping the President win a second term.
“I’ve been given a national assignment—to serve the people of the Niger Delta as NDDC CEO. That’s where my entire focus is right now,” he added.
Ogbuku reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to agriculture, human capital development, and collaborative governance, especially through targeted investments that align with Tinubu’s broader economic strategy.
