Speaking during an interactive meeting with the ministry, executive management, and staff of the commission in Port Harcourt, Momoh urged the NDDC to sustain its momentum and build on the achievements of the past two years.
“The success of NDDC is the success of the Ministry of Regional Development,” Momoh said. “In the past two years, significant developments have taken place in the Niger Delta region because of the hard work of the management and staff of the NDDC. We have come to give you hope and encouragement to do more.”
The minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and directors of the ministry, was in Rivers State to inspect key infrastructure projects, including the Kaa-Ataba Bridge linking Khana and Andoni LGAs, the 3.65km Borokiri-Okrika Road with three bridges, and the Niger Delta Regional Hospital in Port Harcourt, which features cardiovascular and orthopaedic facilities.
Momoh commended the NDDC for successfully marking its 25th anniversary and stressed the need for continued cooperation between staff and leadership.
“For an organisation to excel, its leadership must show the way, and the people behind them must be ready to cooperate,” he noted.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to fulfilling the presidential directive to complete all ongoing regional projects, describing the NDDC’s performance as a national benchmark. He recalled that in the past, poor working conditions discouraged staff, but said the situation had improved significantly.
“Today, we have a new identity. NDDC is one of the best-performing agencies in the country. The difference is good leadership combined with loyal and dedicated staff,” Ogbuku stated.
Permanent Secretary Dr. Mary Ogbe hailed NDDC staff as the “engine room” of the commission’s successes, while Staff Union Chairman John Achoreturi appealed for greater funding support to drive development projects in the region.