By SCM Staff Writer I Thursday, Oct 23, 2025
AMASSOMA, Nigeria — The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced that a substantial 650-bed hostel complex at the Niger Delta University (NDU) in Bayelsa State is slated for completion and inauguration next month, marking a significant step in the agency’s renewed push for regional development.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, made the commitment during an inspection of the facility, emphasizing the Commission’s dedication to boosting educational opportunities across the oil-rich Niger Delta.
”The Commission was committed to enhancing the educational development in the Niger Delta region,” Dr. Ogbuku stated, adding that the effort to complete the students’ accommodation and other “legacy projects” was spurred by a direct directive from President Bola Tinubu. The directive aims to ensure such projects are completed and commissioned swiftly.
The Vice Chancellor of NDU, Professor Allen Agih, who joined the NDDC team on the inspection, underscored the critical need for the new facility. With approximately 22,000 students but only about 10,000 currently residing on campus, the institution has long struggled with an accommodation deficit.
”The hostel will ease accommodation pressure at the institution,” Professor Agih said. He noted that many undergraduates are forced to live off-campus in remote communities, facing daily issues of transportation, safety, and limited access to essential campus resources.
Dr. Ogbuku reaffirmed the NDDC’s commitment to supporting universities in the region, noting that similar hostels have been built at other institutions.
He added that the Commission’s investment in education extends beyond tertiary level, highlighting a recent procurement of 45,000 U-Tablets for primary and secondary school students to promote digital literacy.
During a courtesy visit, the Vice Chancellor lauded the NDDC’s sustained support, including previous donations of a 1,000KVA generator and a 23-seater bus. However, Professor Agih called for increased assistance, specifically in addressing the university’s persistent electricity issues and providing staff quarters.
He emphasized that collaboration with the NDDC is “imperative” given the university’s limited internal resources to pursue its goals of positively impacting the region. Dr. Ogbuku, in turn, urged Nigerian universities to invest more heavily in research to ensure greater self-sustainability.
Beyond education, the NDDC team also inspected the nearby 50-bed Amassoma hospital, where the Managing Director pledged to expand its capacity to 150 beds and add specialized units, including a paediatric ward, an Intensive Care Unit, and a laboratory.
This commitment signals a broader focus on improving social infrastructure alongside educational development in the Niger Delta.
