- R-L: The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie; NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku; the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; the Imo State Deputy Governor, Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru; and the DG of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi
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By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026
PORT HARCOURT — THE Federal Government has announced plans to harmonise regional development initiatives across the country into a single, unified development compass to drive coordinated and inclusive national growth.
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, made this known at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2026 Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Conference, held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, Engr. Momoh urged all Regional Development Commissions across Nigeria to emulate the NDDC by formulating comprehensive master plans. These individual plans, he explained, will be integrated into a national regional development compass to guide future operational agendas and policy execution.
”The progress of the region depends not only on what each stakeholder does, but on how they plan, invest, and act together. President Bola Tinubu’s government remains committed to programmes that expand opportunities, strengthen livelihoods, protect vulnerable communities, and provide lasting prosperity,” Momoh stated.
He further noted that no single institution could tackle the complex challenges of the Niger Delta alone, charging delegates to interrogate existing practices, eliminate non-functional approaches, and build stronger institutional ties.
Reinforcing the call for inter-governmental synergy, the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, urged the governors of the nine oil-producing states to collaborate closely with the NDDC.
Speaking through his deputy, Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, Uzodinma reiterated the commitment of the Imo State Government to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, promising continued alignment with federal initiatives aimed at transforming the Niger Delta region.
During his address, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed that the landmark 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge — linking Khana Local Government Area to Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers State — will be named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognition of his administration’s focus on legacy infrastructure.
Dr. Ogbuku emphasized that stakeholder engagement remains a cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that building trust and transparency is crucial for regional growth.
”We have established processes to ensure that a new institutional culture, anchored in sound ethics and good corporate governance, is in place,” Ogbuku noted. He revealed that global business consulting firm KPMG was engaged to review the Commission’s internal processes, resulting in a governance framework equipped with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress.
Adding to the governance focus, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, announced the adoption of a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Governance Advisory Policies. Approved by the Governing Board, the new policies will serve as the official rule book strictly guiding all operations within the NDDC.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, assured stakeholders that the National Assembly will maintain strict oversight to guarantee project transparency, operational efficiency, and timely execution across the region.