Senate to Audit NDDC Projects as Commission Seeks N1.75trn 2025 Budget

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday came under renewed legislative scrutiny, as Senate commenced plans for a physical assessment of projects executed by the commission between 2021 and 2024, and it presented a proposed N1.75 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

The budget proposal was presented to Senate Committee on NDDC by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Mr. Samuel Ogbuku.

Ogbuku disclosed the 2025 estimate represented a nine per cent reduction from the N1.985 trillion proposed and appropriated for the 2024 fiscal year.

He told the Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong-led committee that the proposed N1.75 trillion budget was expected to be funded from multiple sources.

The various fund sources, according to him, included N776.5 billion as federal government contribution; N752.8 billion from oil companies; N109.4 billion as revenue brought forward from 2024; N53.67 billion as recoveries from federal government agencies; and N8.35 billion as internally generated revenue.

A breakdown of the proposal showed that N1.631 trillion was earmarked for projects execution across the Niger Delta region, while N223 billion was allocated to internal projects.

Personnel cost was put at N47.56 billion, with N49.929 billion set aside for overhead expenditure.

On the performance of the 2024 budget, Ogbuku informed the committee that as of October 31, 2025, the commission’s actual revenue stood at N1.985 trillion, exceeding the initial target of N1.911 trillion.

He attributed the improved revenue performance largely to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation to December 31, 2025.

Following the presentation, the committee held a closed-door session with the NDDC management to review both the budget proposal and the status of ongoing and completed projects across the Niger Delta.

Briefing journalists after the session, Chairman of the committee, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, said Senate would embark on an extensive oversight tour of NDDC projects in the nine Niger Delta states in January 2026.

According to him, the committee critically examined reports on ongoing and completed projects during the closed session and resolved to verify claims through physical inspection.

“At the closed-door session, critical looks were taken at ongoing and completed projects by the commission, and the committee resolved to carry out an extensive oversight tour across the nine Niger Delta states in January next year,” Ekpenyong said.

He added that while NDDC recorded significant project delivery in the outgoing fiscal year, expectations remained high for improved performance in the coming year, particularly in ensuring value for money and timely completion of projects.

In a solemn moment during the meeting, the committee observed a minute of silence in honour of late Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who chaired the committee during the Ninth Senate, and passed away penultimate week.

The gesture followed a motion moved by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and seconded by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North).