NDDC budget scrutiny: Nwoko flags infrastructure deficit in Delta

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Senator Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta) on Tuesday expressed concern over persistent infrastructural deficits in Delta State, challenging the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during the scrutiny of its 2025 budget.

The NDDC management, led by its Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, appeared before the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission to defend the commission’s proposed 2025 budgetary allocation.

However, Nwoko, who represents the Delta North Senatorial District, used the session to raise concerns over a key road project in Delta State, which, despite being captured in the previous budget, has yet to commence.

“Mr Managing Director, during your last appearance before this committee, an issue of critical importance to my constituents and indeed the entire Delta State was raised,” Nwoko said.

“I refer to the road construction project linking Oko, Abala, Utchi, Okpai, Aboh, Asaba-Ase and extending to Patani. This project was clearly outlined in the last budget, yet to date, no tangible progress has been made.”

The senator stressed the strategic and humanitarian importance of the project, noting that it was designed not only as a transportation corridor but also as a flood-control intervention for vulnerable communities.

“We are all aware of the strategic importance of coastal roads. This particular design was meant to incorporate embankments capable of preventing floodwaters from encroaching on inland communities and threatening lives,” he said.

“This is a project with immediate social impact, one that would significantly improve livelihoods. Unfortunately, despite its inclusion in the budget, nothing has happened.”

Nwoko added that the issue would be further discussed in a closed-door meeting, as the committee later resolved to continue deliberations in a private session.

Earlier, in his presentation, Ogbuku disclosed that as of October 31, the commission’s realised revenue stood at N1.985 trillion, surpassing the projected N1.911 trillion recorded between April 2024 and September 2025.

He explained that this represented a performance rate of 104 per cent, attributing the improved revenue largely to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation period to December 31.

The managing director also revealed that the proposed 2025 budget, tagged the “Budget of Consolidation,” was estimated at N1.75 trillion, reflecting a nine per cent reduction from the 2024 budget.

According to him, the reduction was based on the commission’s deliberate adoption of a no-borrowing policy.

It was noted that Nwoko drew attention to the recent death of the former chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

He subsequently moved a motion for a minute of silence in honour of the late lawmaker, which was unanimously observed by the committee.