NDDC has achieved milestones despite criticisms – Iyaye

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated that, despite persistent criticisms over its performance, it has recorded notable achievements in health, education, and infrastructure across the Niger Delta region over the past 25 years.

NDDC, a federal government agency established in 2000, was created to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

In an interview with DAILY POST as the commission marks its 25th anniversary, NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Boma Iyaye, who also chairs the commission’s 25th anniversary planning committee, acknowledged that significant challenges, including infrastructural deficits and inadequate funding still hamper the regional development body. These, he noted, have hindered its ability to fully deliver on its mandate.

While conceding that NDDC has not accomplished all it set out to achieve, Iyayi expressed optimism that, with the support of President Bola Tinubu, the commission will deliver more effectively on its development goals.

“I will say that there has been a lot of progress since the creation of the NDDC as an interventionist agency in the Niger Delta.

“Yes, I agree that there are a lot of challenges for the Commission in terms of infrastructural development and all that. But also, if you look at the achievements in these 25 years, you’ll see that they’ve done a lot.

“In terms of infrastructure, in terms of health, look at the medical outreach that they do every year, a lot of testimonies, a lot of people of the Niger Delta have benefitted,” he said.

Continuing, Iyayi added: “There’s a lot to gain from it. I’m not saying that they (NDDC) have done everything that they are supposed to do, but I’m saying that they’ve done a lot.

“Based on the challenges and lack of adequate funding, some of the things we’ve not been able to achieve.

“But I know surely that given the opportunity, especially with the current President who is supporting the Commission and the people of the Niger Delta, they’ll achieve a lot more.”

Responding to critics who argue that the agency has made little to no impact in the region, Iyayi said the 25th anniversary celebration offers NDDC an opportunity to tell its own story and highlight the positive strides it has made, in contrast to prevailing negative narratives.

“That’s one reason why NDDC is celebrating 25 years this year, because a lot of times they allow others to tell your stories.

“And when others tell your stories, they push the negative narrative into society. They don’t allow you the opportunity to speak or to defend yourself.

“So, NDDC this time is saying no, we will not wait for you to continue to denigrate us, to continue to push a negative narrative.

“We’ll tell our story and we’ll tell the positive aspects of our story. That’s what we’re doing now. So, I don’t agree with them that NDDC has not achieved anything. The NDDC has achieved, and there’s a lot more to be achieved,” he stated.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope that in the next 25 years, basic amenities such as potable water and electricity will no longer be issues in the Niger Delta.

Addressing concerns over the initiation of new projects despite a backlog of abandoned ones, Iyayi stressed that the commission is currently prioritising the completion of longstanding projects, some of which have been stalled for over a decade. He noted that this strategy aligns with a directive from President Bola Tinubu to focus on legacy projects rather than initiating new ones.

“Mr President gave us a direct instruction to reduce new projects and make sure that we concentrate on the abandoned projects. That’s what we’re doing.

“If you look at two major projects that are iconic, that are taking place in Rivers State, the Kaa-Ataba Bridge that links Gokana to Andoni Local Government, and then the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, another major bridge that is being carried out by NDDC.

“These are old projects. We did not start these projects. These are projects that are as old as 12 to 13 years, but we’re completing them because that’s the instruction from Mr President,” he said.

NDDC has achieved milestones despite criticisms – Iyaye