Stakeholders at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Law and Development Summit have called for the repositioning of the Commission as the central coordinating institution for development efforts in the Niger Delta, stressing that a more empowered NDDC is crucial to achieving sustainable development in the region.
Leading the call was former Minister of Petroleum Resources and Foreign Affairs, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, who delivered the keynote address at the summit held in Port Harcourt.
He argued that the NDDC should be strengthened to effectively coordinate the activities of various development actors operating in the oil-rich region.
According to Ajumogobia, the current development framework in the Niger Delta is characterised by overlapping responsibilities among government agencies, state governments, private sector organisations and corporate social responsibility initiatives, resulting in duplication of efforts and limited impact on local communities.
He noted that instead of serving as the central coordinating body for development interventions, the NDDC had become one among several actors operating within a crowded and fragmented governance structure.
Ajumogobia observed that the Commission’s challenges were not merely administrative but structural, arising from a governance architecture marked by overlapping mandates and responsibilities among different institutions and stakeholders.
Also speaking at the summit, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, emphasised the critical role of law in driving sustainable development.
He described law as a powerful instrument for social engineering, economic transformation, institutional strengthening, environmental sustainability and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Ebie said the summit’s theme, “The Role of Law in Driving Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta,” was both timely and significant, given the developmental challenges confronting the region despite its vast natural resources.
He stated that the aspirations of Niger Delta communities required a legal and institutional framework that is responsive, innovative and capable of addressing longstanding developmental concerns.
The Board Chairman further disclosed that the Commission had adopted innovative strategies to improve its operations, strengthen internal governance and accelerate development programmes in line with its mandate.
In his remarks, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said sustainable development in the Niger Delta extends beyond infrastructure provision and must encompass economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
He explained that since assuming office, the current Board and Management had embarked on deliberate reforms aimed at transforming the Commission into a more effective development institution.
Ogbuku said the Commission engaged KPMG Advisory to review its operational processes and develop new corporate governance policies that now guide its internal administration.
He added that the NDDC had also reformed its procurement system to improve transparency and accountability, noting that nearly 90 per cent of its processes had been digitalised, enabling contractors and stakeholders to execute contracts electronically with minimal physical interaction.
According to him, the Commission convened the Law and Development Summit as part of efforts to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks necessary for sustainable development and effective service delivery in the Niger Delta.
Earlier, the Director of Legal Services at the NDDC, Sir Victor Arenyeka, described the summit as a strategic platform for examining how law, governance, policy implementation and institutional accountability could be leveraged to achieve lasting transformation in the region.
He said the gathering brought together policymakers, legal practitioners, development experts, traditional institutions, environmental advocates, academics, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to explore practical solutions for advancing sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
The summit concluded with a strong consensus among participants on the need to reinforce the NDDC’s coordinating role and strengthen legal and governance frameworks to ensure more effective and sustainable development outcomes across the Niger Delta region.
