Admin I Friday, Sept 26, 2025
PORT HARCOURT- The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a strong rebuttal against a recent report by Sahara Reporters, which alleged financial impropriety and project delays.
In a press statement released on Friday, the NDDC called the online publication “malicious” and “false,” directly addressing claims that it spent ₦5 billion on its Managing Director’s birthday and that projects are stalled due to an unreleased audit report.
The NDDC’s statement categorically denied the claim that public funds were used for the 50th birthday celebration of its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
According to the Commission, the event was privately funded by Ogbuku’s friends, family, and associates. The statement highlighted that the main public aspect of the celebration was a book launch in Abuja, emphasizing a focus on “intellectual reflection, communal celebration, and thanksgiving to God” rather than a lavish affair.
Refuting Claims of Stalled Projects
The Commission also challenged the assertion that the non-publication of the forensic audit report is hindering project execution.
The NDDC stated that this claim is “further from the truth” and is a “deliberate attempt to detract from the Commission’s visible developmental strides.”
To back its claim, the NDDC provided a detailed list of recently completed and ongoing projects, demonstrating a commitment to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement issued by Director Public Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama cites numerous infrastructure inaugurations across the Niger Delta region, including:
1. The 9.6-kilometer Abraka-Oben Road in Delta State, inaugurated in February.
2. The 7.3-kilometer Oyigbo Road network in Rivers State, launched by the Minister of Regional Development in March.
3. The 23.7-kilometer Ndoro-Ntalakwu Road Network in Abia State, also inaugurated in March.
4. The commissioning of new NDDC state office complexes in Cross River and Bayelsa states in June.
The statement also referenced a series of five projects commissioned between May 18 and May 28, 2024, spanning roads, bridges, and electricity infrastructure in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, and Ondo states. The Commission also noted its ongoing work on legacy projects, such as the Kaa-Ataba Bridge and the Bonny Ring Road in Rivers State.
The NDDC urged the public to disregard the Sahara Reporters publication, directing them to focus on the Commission’s positive impact and “numerous achievements” in the region.
