The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to collaborate more closely with state governments in order to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the Niger Delta people. Hosting Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director and CEO of the NDDC, along with the Board and Management team at Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday, Gov. Diri underscored the urgent need for deeper collaboration and more significant infrastructure investments in Bayelsa.
Gov. Diri, who warmly welcomed the NDDC delegation, commended the board's efforts so far but called for a stronger, results-driven approach, especially in road construction and other substantial projects. “Our people need roads,” he emphasized, urging the NDDC to prioritize impactful infrastructure rather than surface-level interventions like solar lights. The governor's firm words were a reminder that the NDDC was created to drive transformative change in the Niger Delta, and he insisted that such change is impossible without full alignment between the NDDC and the state governments it was meant to support.
“Let me, on behalf of your government and the people of Bayelsa State, appreciate you and your team for finding it necessary to come to serve us,” Gov. Diri said, adding that “there can be no NDDC without the state governments.” This unity, he argued, is critical, as only a combined front can overcome the complex developmental challenges facing the oil-rich but underdeveloped Niger Delta.
In response, Dr. Ogbuku expressed the NDDC’s readiness to establish a stronger partnership with Bayelsa’s leadership, underscoring the importance of a shared vision. He announced several ambitious projects designed to address critical infrastructure needs in the state. Among these projects is the canalization of the Okarki to Otuabagi Creek, linking the Atlantic Ocean, which could significantly boost local commerce and access to remote communities.
Additionally, Dr. Ogbuku pledged the rehabilitation of the Odi-Trofani road, a key artery in the region, as well as the construction of much-needed Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at Bayelsa Palm and Odi, aiming to provide relief for communities facing frequent displacements due to floods and other challenges.
The meeting was attended by Bayelsa’s top officials, signaling the importance of the occasion. Dignitaries present included Secretary to the State Government Prof. Nimobofa Ayawei, Chief of Staff Dr. Peter Akpe, and other key government representatives. This gathering reflects a heightened urgency in Bayelsa’s leadership to collaborate with the NDDC in order to fast-track infrastructural progress and uplift the quality of life in the state.
