WARRI/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to partner with state governments in rehabilitating critical federal roads across the region to ease the suffering of commuters and boost economic activities.
The Governor made the call on Friday during the inauguration of the new NDDC State Office in Warri, describing the edifice as a symbol of shared commitment to development, inclusion, and efficient service delivery.
Governor Oborevwori emphasized that true progress in the Niger Delta can only be achieved through collaboration and renewed dedication to improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
He urged the Commission to channel more of its resources toward fixing failed portions of major roads that have caused hardship to motorists, especially the Warri–Sapele–Benin Road. According to him, the Delta State Government has already approved ₦35.7 billion for the reconstruction of the failed section of the Warri/Sapele/Benin Road, from Effurun Roundabout and Spare Parts Market to after Ohore Junction, a major link connecting Delta to Bayelsa, Rivers, and Cross River States.
“I urge the NDDC to collaborate with us in addressing these critical infrastructure challenges that directly affect the lives and economy of our people,” Oborevwori said. “We are ready to partner with the Commission on the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road and other strategic projects that will enhance connectivity and regional development.”
The Governor disclosed that a joint meeting between the Delta State Government, Chevron Nigeria Limited, and the NDDC would hold early next month to finalize plans for the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road and other priority projects.
While commending the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for his visionary leadership, Oborevwori said the new state office represents a new chapter of institutional stability and renewed purpose for the Commission.
He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has revitalized state finances, fostered inclusivity, and restored public confidence in governance.
“No state in Nigeria pays contractors faster than Delta. We are not borrowing and we owe no contractor,” the Governor said, pledging to maintain transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability in his administration.
On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, said President Tinubu had directed the NDDC to prioritize completion of all abandoned projects in the region, noting that many of them have already been completed and commissioned.
He listed some achievements, including the restoration of electricity in Okitipupa after 15 years of blackout, construction of bridges and substations, and the launch of health and education programs across several states. Momoh charged NDDC staff to maintain the new Warri office, remain apolitical, and serve all Niger Delta communities without bias.
The Chairman of the NDDC Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to good governance, stating that the 7th Governing Board, appointed by President Tinubu, has strengthened institutional integrity through a new transparency framework developed with auditing firm KPMG.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the new Delta office as part of the Commission’s transition “from transactions to transformation.” He said the NDDC was collaborating with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) on infrastructure projects worth ₦650 billion, including major bridges and roads across the region.
“We are committed to accountability, partnership, and timely completion of legacy projects that will transform the lives of Niger Deltans,” Ogbuku said.
The ceremony attracted several dignitaries, including the Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and the Chairman, House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, among other distinguished guests.
