A LEGACY-IN-STONE:-HOW-OGBUKU-IS-COMPLETING-"FORGOTTEN"-PROJECTS-ABANDONED-FOR-DECADES

A LEGACY IN STONE: HOW OGBUKU IS COMPLETING "FORGOTTEN" PROJECTS ABANDONED FOR DECADES

​REPORT BY DAVE IKIEDEI ASEI Published by Niger Delta Progress-Reporters/Monday, February 23, 2026


​THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN INFRASTRUCTURE</span>

​For years, the landscape of the Niger Delta was littered with the "ghosts" of progress—skeletal remains of bridges, half-paved roads, and overgrown hospital sites. These projects, some dating back over twenty years, became symbols of stagnation. However, under the leadership of DR. SAMUEL OGBUKU, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the narrative has shifted from abandonment to achievement.

​By prioritizing the completion of existing contracts over the awarding of new, flashy ones, Ogbuku has adopted a "Legacy First" approach. This strategy has not only saved billions in taxpayer money but has finally brought essential services to communities that had long since lost hope.

​RECLAIMING THE LANDSCAPE: KEY COMPLETED PROJECTS

​The following table highlights significant "forgotten" jobs that have been revived and commissioned under the current administration's "Operation Zero Potholes" and infrastructure drive:

 Name & Description

State

Status/Completion Date

Years Abandoned

Ogbia-Nembe Road (Cutting-edge bridge/road project)

Bayelsa

Commissioned May 2024

~15 Years

9-Storey NDDC Headquarters (Eastern Bypass)

Rivers

Fully Operational (2023/24)

Over 25 Years

Iko-Atabrikang-Akpan-Utong-Iwuochang Bridge

Akwa Ibom

Commissioned 2024

~20 Years

132KV Substation and Transmission Line

Ondo

Commissioned June 2024

15+ Years

Electrification of 50+ Communities

Edo/Ondo

Ongoing/Phased 2025

Decades-long blackout

BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR

​The completion of these projects is about more than just concrete; it is about restoring the TRUST of the people. When Dr. Ogbuku took office, he inherited a debt profile and a list of over 10,000 stalled projects. His decision to focus on the 132KV Substation in Ondo State, for instance, has ended a 15-year blackout for nearly 2,000 households, proving that the NDDC is no longer a "contract mill" but a development agency.

​"We are not just building roads; we are building bridges to the future. A project left uncompleted is a promise unkept. We are here to keep those promises." — Excerpt from Dr. Ogbuku’s 2025 Stakeholders Address.

​THE OGBUKU STRATEGY: ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION

​The success of these completions is attributed to several key shifts in policy:

  1. ​Contractor Re-engagement: Negotiating with original contractors to return to site without the bureaucratic red tape of the past.
  2. ​The "Triple A" Policy: Focus on Accountability, Affirmative Action, and Acceleration.
  3. ​Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Leveraging collaborations with international oil companies (IOCs) to co-fund the completion of mega-projects.

​As of today, February 23, 2026, the Ogbuku administration continues to set a benchmark for public service in Nigeria, turning the "stone" of the past into a solid foundation for the future of the Niger Delta.

​EDITORIAL NOTE: This report highlights the ongoing commitment to regional stability through infrastructure. 


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