Ex-NDDC Chairman Reveals How Political Interference and Endless Red Tape Cripple Development, Fuel Corruption

Former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has exposed the deep-seated inefficiencies and political interference undermining the agency, warning that excessive bureaucracy within the commission is directly breeding corruption and stagnation.

Speaking during the inaugural edition of The Exchange Podcast hosted by Femi Soneye, Ndoma-Egba said the NDDC — though established with noble intentions — has been crippled by the absence of a functional master plan and the constant turnover of its leadership.

He recalled that the NDDC master plan, which was developed after extensive consultations with communities, state governments, oil companies, and the federal government, was “abandoned almost immediately” after its launch.

Using a simple analogy, the former Senate Leader said:

“It’s like building a house without a plan. The NDDC is just walking in the dark, groping, unable to effectively integrate the entire region economically.”

Ndoma-Egba attributed the neglect of the master plan to “convenience and political pressure,” describing the commission as being treated by some politicians as a “share of the national cake.”

His efforts to revive the master plan during his tenure were short-lived after his board was suddenly dissolved via a news bulletin without prior notice or explanation. He said such abrupt dissolutions have become a recurring problem that destabilises the NDDC and prevents long-term planning.

Perhaps the most startling revelation from his interview was the scale of bureaucratic bottlenecks within the commission. Ndoma-Egba recounted being told by his Managing Director that it took 62 different stops for a contractor to receive payment.

“What’s the implication of that? Serious bureaucracy. And what does serious bureaucracy breed? Inefficiency. And what does inefficiency breed? Corruption,” he said, noting that corruption at the commission is often “opportunistic,” emerging from a system that encourages personal advantage over process efficiency.

The senator also described how attempts to investigate allegations that contractors paid bribes to secure payments were violently disrupted. Thugs stormed Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt during the planned inauguration of an investigative panel, dispersing all attendees.

As a remedy, Ndoma-Egba proposed a straightforward but radical solution — that NDDC leadership be allowed to complete their full four-year tenure as provided by law.
According to him, such stability would enable proper planning, consistent policy implementation, and lasting development for the Niger Delta.

“If leaders are sure of their tenure, they can plan properly and stop looking over their shoulders,” he said. “That’s the only way we can have sustainable reforms and genuine development.”