Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to partner with  state governments in rehabilitating critical federal roads across the Niger Delta region.

Mr Oborevwori made the call during the inauguration of the commission’s newly completed office complex at Edjeba Community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, on Friday.

The project, which was initiated about 13 years ago, was described by the governor as a symbol of renewed commitment to grassroots development and federal-state collaboration in the region.

He said the edifice represented a reaffirmation of shared dedication to bringing development closer to the people.

The governor urged the interventionist agency to prioritise the rehabilitation of failed roads, which he said had caused untold hardship to commuters in the Niger Delta.

According to him, the Delta government has already approved N35.7 billion for the reconstruction of the Warri/Sapele/Benin Road, covering the section from Effurun Roundabout and Spare Parts Market to beyond Ohore Junction.

Mr Oborevwori also expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC on the Omadino/Okerenkoko/Escravos Road and other major infrastructure projects.

He commended the managing director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, for his leadership and commitment to development, describing the new office as a mark of institutional stability and renewed purpose.

The governor further lauded President Bola Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it had strengthened state finances, fostered inclusivity, and restored public confidence in governance.

In his remarks, the minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, said Mr Tinubu had directed the NDDC to complete all abandoned projects across the region.

Mr Momoh disclosed that several of such projects had now been completed and inaugurated.

“NDDC has restored electricity in Okitipupa after 15 years of blackout, constructed key bridges and substations, and launched health and education projects across several states,” the minister said.

He urged NDDC staff to maintain the new facilities and remain non-partisan while ensuring equitable service delivery to all Niger Delta communities.

Also speaking, the chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to collaborate with Delta and other Niger Delta states to achieve sustainable development.

“Partnership remains the foundation of the commission’s success.

“Plans are already underway for the construction of the Escravos/Warri Road, which will further enhance regional connectivity,” he said.

On his part, Mr Ogbuku said the new office in  Delta  signified the commission’s shift “from transaction to transformation,” adding that it would serve as a hub for improved service delivery.

“We are ambassadors of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. What we see here today is proof that we are inspired to deliver real results,” Mr Ogbuku said.

He reaffirmed that the era of abandoned projects in the Niger Delta was over, stressing that the commission was now focused on completing all inherited projects across the region.

Mr Ogbuku thanked Mr Oborevwori for his partnership and support, describing the Warri office edifice as a “divine project” that underscores unity and progress.

(NAN)