The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has begun training stakeholders across the region as part of efforts to digitise its procurement system and improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
The initiative is aimed at eliminating bottlenecks associated with manual processes and aligning the Commission’s operations with modern governance standards.
The programme, titled “NDDC Procurement Policy Reform and Digitisation Stakeholders Sensitisation and Training Summit,” was held in Imo State, following earlier sessions in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River states.
Speaking at the summit, the Director of Procurement, Dr Chuks Osuji, described the reform as a critical step toward improving workflow and addressing inefficiencies in the Commission’s procurement process.
He said the transition to a digital system would eliminate cumbersome manual procedures, reduce opportunities for corruption, and promote value for money.
“This effort is part of a broader commitment to modernise our procurement practices, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure accountability,” Osuji said.
He commended the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for driving reforms that are repositioning the Commission toward a more transparent and efficient system.
Osuji urged contractors, consultants, and service providers to adopt the digital procurement platform, noting that it would enhance compliance with best practices.
In his remarks, the Imo State representative on the NDDC Board, Dr Kyrian Uchegbu, said the initiative aligns with global standards and national policy direction.
He noted that digital procurement systems improve efficiency, minimise delays, reduce corruption risks, and create a more competitive environment for service providers.
“They also provide a reliable audit trail that strengthens institutional accountability,” he said.
The Director of the NDDC Imo State Office, Mr Patrick Obayelu, said the programme is in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu for all government institutions to migrate from analogue to digital systems.
He emphasised that the reform goes beyond technology adoption to include a shift in mindset toward transparency and reduced human interference.
“Procurement lies at the heart of public service delivery. It determines how resources are allocated and how development reaches the people,” Obayelu said.
He added that contractors doing business with the Commission would now be required to engage through the online procurement platform, which will also provide a structured feedback mechanism.
Also speaking, the Head of Procurement and Audit at the Imo State Bureau of Public Procurement, Engr Frank Kelechi, commended the NDDC for embracing digitisation, describing the initiative as a step in the right direction.
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