Otu lauds NDDC over Niger Delta projects, urges sustained development drive

Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for what he described as significant development strides in the Niger Delta region, saying the agency’s projects align with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Otu gave the commendation on Tuesday when members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Calabar.

The lawmakers were in the state for an oversight inspection of the emergency rehabilitation works on the Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja road.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and the Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, alongside the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

The governor said the collaboration between the state government and the commission had contributed to visible improvements in infrastructure delivery across the region, attributing the progress to President Bola Tinubu’s policy direction.

“I commend President Tinubu for his resolve in empowering NDDC to face the daunting challenges confronting the region,” Otu said, adding that residents were already seeing positive impacts of ongoing interventions.

He also expressed satisfaction that the lawmakers had conducted an on-site inspection of the project before the courtesy visit, noting that it provided them with a clearer assessment of the work done.

Earlier, Senator Ekpenyong said the oversight visit was part of the National Assembly’s constitutional duty, while commending the governor’s infrastructural efforts in the state.

He said the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja road, earlier advocated by the governor, had begun to materialise, describing the project as vital to economic activities in the region.

According to him, the road serves as a major corridor for the movement of petroleum products, agricultural produce, and solid minerals.

Also speaking, Hon. Ibori-Suenu praised the governor for what she called his attention to detail and contributions to national development.

At the project site, NDDC Managing Director Dr Ogbuku described the road as a strategic trans-regional corridor linking the South-South, South-East, and North-Central zones, adding that its rehabilitation would boost connectivity and economic activity.

He said phases one and two of the project, covering 27.5 kilometres, had been completed, while other sections were ongoing.

“This is a new NDDC that starts and finishes projects to the excitement of road users,” Ogbuku said, adding that the commission had shifted from what he described as transactional operations to transformational development.

He also noted that the commission was strengthening collaboration with state governments through public-private partnerships, citing ongoing projects such as the Ogbia-Nembe Road.

NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Dr Victor Antai, said the rehabilitation works would improve mobility across the region and enhance economic integration.

The contractor handling the project, Michael Asuquo, assured the commission of timely and quality delivery.

The visit formed part of ongoing legislative oversight of NDDC projects across the Niger Delta region