Bayelsa Communities Condemn NDDC Over 11-Year Abandoned Shoreline Project, Appeal to Senate Committee

 


Bayelsa Communities Condemn NDDC Over 11-Year Abandoned Shoreline Project, Appeal to Senate Committee

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
📅 September 29, 2025

In a powerful joint statement that has stirred fresh debates on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and its commitment to its core mandate, the people of Famgbe and Ogbogoro — two historic communities in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State — have publicly condemned the Commission over the prolonged abandonment of their shoreline protection and land reclamation project, which has now lingered for over 11 years.

The statement, issued by the Atissa Youth Council (AYC) through its President, Mr. Josiah Osomuze, described the situation as a ticking time bomb for both the affected communities and the Bayelsa State capital as a whole. According to Osomuze, the continuous neglect has left the communities at the mercy of devastating coastal erosion, seasonal flooding, and widespread displacement — a humanitarian crisis that has worsened over the years.

“Our people are on the brink of extinction. Families have been forced to abandon ancestral homes, properties worth billions have been submerged, and countless lives have been lost due to recurring floods. The silence of the NDDC under the current Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, is both shocking and unacceptable,” Osomuze said.

⚠️ A Decade of Delay, A Generation in Peril

The controversial shoreline project, which was first awarded over a decade ago, was reportedly stalled due to engineering defects. Rather than resolve the challenges, successive NDDC administrations allegedly allowed the project to languish, further eroding public trust in the agency.

AYC has therefore called on:

…to urgently wade into the matter and compel the Commission to take immediate corrective action.

🔎 Transparency Questions and Corruption Allegations

SaharaReporters’ investigations reveal that the NDDC under Ogbuku has failed to publish critical contract award details on its official website. While project titles, contractors, and locations are listed, there is a conspicuous absence of awarded amounts, budgeted amounts, and tender processes — key transparency requirements for public procurement.

This omission raises fresh concerns about accountability, especially against the backdrop of allegations of funds mismanagement, including the much-talked-about ₦652.8 million spent on contracts for a forensic audit of the Commission between February 17 and 22, 2023 — an audit report that remains unpublished by the Tinubu administration.

🏗️ Other NDDC Projects in Limbo

Famgbe and Ogbogoro are not alone. Several other major NDDC projects across the Niger Delta remain uncompleted, including:

  • Kaa-Ataba Bridge (Rivers State) – A 1.2 km bridge and road project meant to connect Andoni and Kana LGAs, providing an alternative route to Bonny Island.

  • Nasak Junction AON Road & Bridge (Akwa Ibom State) – A 30 km road and bridge linking rural communities to Abia State.

  • Okirika-Borikiri Bridge (Rivers State).

  • Bonny Ring Road (Rivers State) – A massive 27.14 km road project with 13 bridges, designed to connect Bonny Town with surrounding communities.

The cumulative effect of these delays is a region trapped in perpetual underdevelopment despite trillions of naira in allocations to the Commission since its inception.

🎂 Lavish Birthday Amidst Crisis

Public anger has been further inflamed by reports of the lavish 50th birthday celebration of Sam Ogbuku, NDDC’s Chief Executive Officer, even as communities across the region groan under the weight of uncompleted projects and devastating environmental challenges.

This development, critics argue, underscores a wider culture of insensitivity and poor prioritisation of resources within the Commission’s leadership.

🗣️ Final Word from Atissa Youth Council

The AYC concluded its statement with a passionate appeal:

“We will not fold our arms and watch Famgbe and Ogbogoro disappear from the map of Bayelsa. The NDDC must return to site immediately. Our lives, culture, and future generations are at stake. The time to act is now.”

With this latest outcry, all eyes are now on the Senate Committee on NDDC and the Federal Government to see whether they will intervene decisively or allow yet another Niger Delta project to become a sad entry in the long list of abandoned contracts.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Tags: #BayelsaNews #NDDC #AtissaKingdom #Famgbe #Ogbogoro #Flooding #NigeriaDevelopment #NigerDelta

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