By Solomon OKPO
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has presented a proposed N1.75 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC.
The joint committees are chaired by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and Hon. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake.
Presenting the proposal, the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the 2025 appropriation as a “Budget of Consolidation,” explaining that it builds on the 2024 Budget of Renewed Hope and signals a decisive shift from routine interventions to transformational development across the Niger Delta.
According to Ogbuku, the budget aligns squarely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with emphasis on efficiency, impact, and people-focused outcomes.
The N1.75 trillion proposal represents a 9 per cent reduction from the N1.985 trillion approved for 2024. Funding sources include statutory federal allocations, contributions from oil companies, carried-forward revenues, recoveries, and internally generated revenue.
A breakdown of the budget shows that N1.631 trillion has been earmarked for regional development projects across the Niger Delta, while provisions were also made for internal projects, personnel costs, and overhead expenditures. The Commission also introduced a new sectoral budgeting framework aimed at improving planning discipline, transparency, and project execution.
On performance, the NDDC reported strong revenue inflows, disclosing that actual revenue for the 2024 fiscal year stood at N1.985 trillion as at October 31, exceeding the projected target.
Members of the National Assembly commended the revenue performance but stressed that improved funding must translate into tangible development outcomes. They announced plans for an extensive oversight tour of NDDC projects across the nine Niger Delta states in January 2026.
Lawmakers were unequivocal that the 2025 budget must deliver measurable people-centred development, warning that appropriations would be judged strictly by visible impact on communities.
The presentation underscored renewed legislative resolve to ensure that the NDDC fulfills its core mandate of sustainable development in the oil-producing region.
NDDC… Making a Difference.
