The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) conducted a procurement policy reform and digitisation sensitisation summit in Aba, Abia State, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve transparency and efficiency. Chuks Osuji, NDDC Director of Procurement, said the initiative aims to strengthen institutional frameworks and align procurement operations with global best practices. He was represented by Freeman Okwurakpo, NDDC Assistant Director of Procurement, who reiterated the commission's commitment to transformative service delivery. Osuji stated that empowering stakeholders, contractors and service providers with updated knowledge would create lasting value in Niger Delta communities. The shift to digital procurement systems is intended to move the agency from transactional to transformational operations. Anderson Ukeh, NDDC Abia State Office Director, credited Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku for enabling the reform drive, describing it as a new chapter for the commission. Ukeh confirmed that the NDDC's systems are now fully digitised and automated under Ogbuku's leadership. Rex Ugulu, Associate Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, facilitated the training. Ugulu explained that the reform replaces manual, paper-based processes with a digital platform to reduce delays and limit corruption risks. He described the digitisation as more than a technical upgrade, calling it a critical government reform. The training targeted government officials, private sector partners, civil society organisations and the public. Stakeholders were educated on the benefits and implementation strategies of modernised procurement systems. The NDDC says the sensitisation is part of a broader campaign across the Niger Delta region.
Anderson Ukeh praises Samuel Ogbuku for digitising the NDDC, yet the commission still relies on training workshops to inform stakeholders about a system supposedly already in place. If the digitisation is complete, as claimed, contractors and officials should already be operating within it without needing orientation. This suggests the rollout may be more symbolic than operational, leaving Abia stakeholders potentially unprepared for actual digital procurement processes. The gap between announcement and implementation could delay projects meant to benefit local communities.
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