By Emmanuel Ukudolo I Wednesday, April 15.26
CALABAR – The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has hailed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its recent “milestone achievements,” claiming the Commission’s work is now finally aligned with the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope” vision.
Speaking during a high-profile courtesy visit from the National Assembly Committees on the NDDC at the Government House in Calabar, Governor Otu noted that the synergy between the state and the Commission is visibly changing the landscape of the Niger Delta.
The delegation, led by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Senate Committee Chair) and Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (House Committee Chair), arrived in the state for an oversight inspection of emergency repairs on the vital Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja road.
The road is considered a lifeline for the region, serving as a primary corridor for the transport of:
Petroleum products
Agricultural produce
Solid minerals
Senator Ekpenyong confirmed that the rehabilitation, which Governor Otu championed last year, has moved from a “dream” to a tangible reality. “The Governor called for this, and I am happy to inform him that the work is happening,” Ekpenyong stated.
“The People Can Feel It”
Governor Otu did not mince words regarding the practical impact of the projects. “If you ask the ordinary people on the streets of the Niger Delta, they will tell you there are positive impacts on the ground,” he remarked.
He credited President Bola Tinubu for empowering the NDDC to tackle the region’s “daunting challenges” head-on.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, reported significant progress on the trans-regional corridor.
He confirmed that Phases 1 and 2 (covering 27.5 km) have been completed, with remaining sections well underway.
”This is a new NDDC that starts and finishes projects,” Dr. Ogbuku said. “We have fully transformed from transaction to transformation.”
The NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects, Dr. Victor Antai, emphasized that the road project is key to easing vehicular movement across the South-South, South-East, and North-Central zones. Meanwhile, the project contractor, Michael Asuquo, reassured the Commission that quality work would be delivered on time, citing the NDDC’s responsiveness to the “cries of the people.”
Background: The NDDC and the “Renewed Hope” Mandate
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 to address the ecological and developmental challenges of the oil-rich Niger Delta. However, for years, the Commission faced criticism over abandoned projects and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Under the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NDDC has pivoted toward a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and closer collaboration with state governors. The rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ogoja road is seen as a flagship example of this “new” NDDC—focusing on critical infrastructure that links multiple Nigerian geopolitical zones to boost trade and regional security.
