- The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku (middle) exchanges pleasantries with the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedekun (left) at the Mandatory Continuous Public Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme. On the right is the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Engr. Emeka Ezeh
By Emmanuel Thomas Staff Writer
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is set to fully automate its internal processes by the end of March, part of a broader effort to modernize governance and curb corruption in one of Nigeria’s most critical regional agencies.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the NDDC, announced the timeline during a procurement training program organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Port Harcourt. The move marks a significant shift for an organization that has historically faced scrutiny over its spending and project delivery.
“We will soon automate our procurement processes to ensure compliance, transparency, and better service delivery,” Dr. Ogbuku said. “We have transitioned from transaction to transformation.”
A Push for Accountability
The automation initiative is the centerpiece of a newly reformed corporate governance structure.
According to Dr. Ogbuku, the commission has implemented a Governance Advisory Service designed to instill a culture of accountability.
The reform efforts come at a time when the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is emphasizing its “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which identifies public procurement as a strategic engine for national development.
To support this digital transition, the NDDC has begun intensive ICT training for its staff, augmenting a team that already includes 35 BPP-certified procurement professionals.
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, praised the initiative, noting that the training is essential for institutionalizing ethical standards.
“Procurement is a distinct cadre that provides the background for project delivery,” Adedokun said, urging officers to remain “competent and courageous” in upholding due process.
Beyond administrative reforms, Dr. Ogbuku pointed to the successful “Operation Light Up the Niger Delta” as evidence of the commission’s shift toward needs-based project assessment.
He noted that hosting the training in Port Harcourt served as a signal to the international community that the region is stabilizing.
“Holding this training in the Niger Delta demonstrates that there is peace in the region, which translates to peace in Nigeria,” Ogbuku said.
Engr. Emeka Ezeh, Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, echoed the sentiment in his keynote address, describing procurement not just as a bureaucratic step, but as a “mechanism to fight corruption” and a vital tool for good governance.
The automation process is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2026, providing a digital paper trail for all future regional contracts.
