By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Delta State Government to accelerate infrastructural and economic development across the state and the entire Niger Delta region.
This renewed partnership was the highlight of the commissioning of the NDDC’s ultra-modern Model State Office Complex in Warri on Friday an edifice described as a major symbol of transformation and institutional growth under the current board and management of the Commission.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Chief (Dr.) Samuel Ogbuku, said the new Warri office reflected the Commission’s shift “from transaction to transformation,” aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are ambassadors of the Renewed Hope Agenda, translating ideas into reality. When we say we are moving from transaction to transformation, this is what we mean. Today, we are commissioning offices fully owned by the NDDC in Cross River, Bayelsa, and now Delta State,” Ogbuku said.
He explained that the new facility would provide a conducive work environment for staff and enhance service delivery in the region. Ogbuku commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for his leadership and partnership, which, he said, had strengthened the NDDC’s presence in the state.
“Your administration has institutionalised NDDC in Delta. We are open to partnerships with Niger Delta governors so that projects can be delivered on time. Presently, we are involved in ₦650 billion worth of partnerships with NLNG, and we look forward to collaborating with Delta State on similar initiatives,” Ogbuku stated.
He also lauded President Tinubu for his unprecedented support for the NDDC, noting that the present administration has provided more funding to the Commission than any other in history.
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s directive to complete all abandoned projects in the region, adding that several have already been revived.
“We identified and began commissioning completed works, including a 1.2km bridge in Ka’ataba, Rivers State. A memo is already before the President to approve the Omadino Escravos Road project to improve access to riverine communities in Delta,” Momoh disclosed.
He described the newly commissioned Warri office as a “symbol of service and progress,” urging staff to maintain and utilise it effectively.
On his part, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said the commissioning of the Warri office marked a new chapter of collaboration between the state and the NDDC.
“This is not just about opening a new building; it reflects a renewed sense of partnership. I appeal to the NDDC let us work together to fix federal roads in our region. These roads have become a nightmare for our people,” the governor said.
He revealed that his administration had embarked on the reconstruction of the Spare Parts Market–Ohorhe Road at a cost of ₦35.7 billion, and expressed readiness to partner with the Commission on other strategic projects, including the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road.
“As a government, we will support every form of partnership, whether at the national or regional level,” Oborevwori added, while commending President Tinubu for policies that have strengthened intergovernmental cooperation.
Earlier, NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said the Warri office was the second in the Commission’s new model series, with the third already under construction. He said the facility features four main structures, including residential quarters, a central air-cooling system, an elevator, and a CCTV security network for staff safety and comfort.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said the board had provided a clear policy direction for the Commission by working with KPMG to develop a strategic operations guide. He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to aligning its programmes with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
Ebie appealed to the governor to give priority to the Escravos–Warri road, describing it as vital to the economic life of the region.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, accompanied by Senator Ned Nwoko and other lawmakers, commended President Tinubu, the Minister, and the NDDC management for their visible achievements.
“This new office will bring the operations of the Commission closer to the people and enhance service delivery. Do not rest on your oars — strive to do more,” Senator Ekpeyong urged.
In her goodwill message, Chairperson of the House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, described the Warri edifice as a “symbol of Renewed Hope” and a sign of better days ahead for the Niger Delta.
“This is not just a building; it symbolises a new era of development. Let this be the starting point for more visible transformation in Delta and across the Niger Delta,” she said.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by prominent traditional rulers, including the Orodje of Okpe, the Ovie of Uvwie, the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo, and the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri, alongside top government officials and community leaders.