The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has proposed a budget of N1.75 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, outlining plans to consolidate ongoing reforms and deliver targeted infrastructure and developmental outcomes across the oil-rich region.
The budget proposal, themed “Budget of Consolidation,” was presented to the Senate and House Committees on the NDDC at the National Assembly in Abuja by the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
Ogbuku said the 2026 plan builds on the gains of the 2025 “Budget of Renewed Hope,” and reflects a deliberate shift from transactional to transformational development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He thanked President Tinubu for sustaining confidence in the Board and Management of the Commission, and acknowledged the support of the Supervising Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, as well as the National Assembly committees overseeing NDDC operations.
According to him, the budget estimate represents a nine per cent decrease from the N1.985 trillion approved for 2025, but remains a realistic projection designed to match expected revenue and project priorities.
The proposed N1.75 trillion outlay is expected to be financed through: N776.5bn from the Federal Government; N752.8bn from oil and gas companies; N109.4bn carried over from 2025; N53.67bn from recoveries from federal agencies; and N8.35bn in internally generated revenue
The Commission earmarked N1.631 trillion for capital projects across the Niger Delta, while N223 billion would go to internal projects and administrative operations. Personnel and overhead costs are pegged at N47.56bn and N49.9bn respectively.
Ogbuku disclosed that the Commission has scrapped line-item budgeting in favour of sectoral allocations, a reform he said would eliminate delays and improve efficiency in project implementation.
He also reported that as of October 31, 2025, the NDDC had recorded N1.985 trillion in actual revenue, surpassing its earlier target due to the extension of the 2025 budget cycle to December 31, 2025.
After a closed-door review of the proposal and project records, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, told journalists that the committee will undertake an oversight tour across the nine Niger Delta states in January 2026 to physically verify ongoing and completed projects.
“We examined the reports on the Commission’s activities and resolved to verify claims through inspection. While the NDDC has recorded progress, expectations are high for improved delivery in the coming year,” Ekpenyong said.
Similarly, the Chair of the House Committee on the NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, warned that lawmakers would not treat the proposal as a routine formality, stressing that legislators will tie their support to measurable performance and transparency.
“This budget represents renewed hope for millions in the Niger Delta. It must be people-centred, transparent, and aligned with national development priorities,” she said.
Both committees commended the Commission’s reform initiatives but insisted that the coming year must demonstrate value for money and concrete impact in communities.
