{"id":5774,"date":"2026-09-13T23:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T23:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/13\/nddc-must-stop-mistaking-solar-light-installation-for-development___comrade-freeborn-abraye-fires-nddc-md-samuel-ogbuku-says-the-niger-delta-needs-transformative-infrastructure-hu\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T23:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T23:17:54","slug":"nddc-must-stop-mistaking-solar-light-installation-for-development___comrade-freeborn-abraye-fires-nddc-md-samuel-ogbuku-says-the-niger-delta-needs-transformative-infrastructure-hu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/13\/nddc-must-stop-mistaking-solar-light-installation-for-development___comrade-freeborn-abraye-fires-nddc-md-samuel-ogbuku-says-the-niger-delta-needs-transformative-infrastructure-hu\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNDDC Must Stop Mistaking Solar-Light Installation For Development\u201d___Comrade Freeborn Abraye Fires NDDC MD. Samuel Ogbuku, Says The Niger Delta Needs Transformative Infrastructure, Human Capital Development And Economic Opportunities Not A Parade Of Solar Lights\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Ebiowei Gabriel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, has launched a scathing criticism of the development priorities of the Dr. Samuel Ogbuku-led Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), declaring that the Commission must urgently raise its development standards and deliver interventions capable of producing lasting socioeconomic transformation across the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye said it is deeply disturbing that, at a time when the Niger Delta is crying out for major roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, potable water, economic empowerment and sustainable employment opportunities, solar-light installations appear to occupy a prominent place in the Commission&#8217;s visible community interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to him, solar streetlights can be useful, but they cannot become a substitute for comprehensive regional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet nobody deceive the Niger Delta people into believing that installing solar lights from one community to another constitutes the totality of development. Solar lighting is an intervention, not a comprehensive development blueprint.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye challenged the NDDC leadership to demonstrate how its interventions are contributing to the region&#8217;s long-term economic transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said the Niger Delta requires strategic infrastructure and human-capital investments capable of changing the economic circumstances of its people, rather than interventions that merely create temporary visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cWHERE ARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator asked the NDDC leadership to place before the Niger Delta public a clear and measurable development agenda showing how its projects are addressing the region&#8217;s most fundamental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere are the major regional road networks? Where are the strategic bridges connecting isolated communities? Where are the large-scale industrial and agricultural projects? Where are the sustainable youth employment programmes? Where are the vocational and technical institutions capable of producing the skilled workforce the Niger Delta needs? Where are the healthcare investments capable of serving our rural and riverine populations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye argued that the Commission must think beyond projects that can be commissioned and photographed and begin concentrating on interventions whose impact can be measured years after commissioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He maintained that development should be measured by improved livelihoods, increased economic activity, better access to healthcare and education, employment creation, industrial capacity and sustainable community prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cNDDC MUST NOT REDUCE DEVELOPMENT TO WHAT IS EASY TO INSTALL\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye further warned that the NDDC must not allow easily visible projects to overshadow the more difficult but transformational investments required by the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Niger Delta does not need development that merely looks good at commissioning ceremonies. Our people need development that works, lasts and creates opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also called for transparent monitoring of completed solar-light projects, including information on their installation dates, specifications, maintenance arrangements, operational status and lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf there are claims that particular installations are failing prematurely, those claims should be independently verified through physical inspection and published project-performance data,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cNDDC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MUCH MORE\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye stressed that NDAPDEJ is not opposed to solar-energy interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather, he said the organisation is demanding balance, scale, durability and strategic planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed to the need for the NDDC to concentrate substantially on projects that can unlock the productive capacity of the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to him, the Commission should prioritise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>major road and bridge networks;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rural and riverine connectivity;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>electricity and renewable-energy infrastructure;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>healthcare facilities and medical equipment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>educational infrastructure;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>technical and vocational training;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>youth entrepreneurship and employment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>agriculture and aquaculture;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>industrial development;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>environmental and shoreline protection;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>water and sanitation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and sustainable economic-development programmes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are not asking NDDC to abandon solar lighting. We are asking NDDC to stop treating solar lighting as though it is the beginning and end of development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NDAPDEJ DEMANDS A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT SCORECARD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye further demanded that NDDC publish a comprehensive, publicly accessible scorecard showing the status of its major projects across the nine Niger Delta states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scorecard, he said, should contain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Project name.<br>Project location.<br>Contractor.<br>Contract value.<br>Amount paid.<br>Commencement date.<br>Current implementation status.<br>Expected completion date.<br>Maintenance arrangements.<br>And measurable community impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Niger Delta people are not asking for propaganda. They are asking for development they can see, use and measure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said NDAPDEJ would continue monitoring development interventions across the region and would give credit wherever genuine development is delivered while constructively challenging shortcomings wherever they occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FINAL WARNING FROM NDAPDEJ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye said the NDDC leadership still has an opportunity to change the narrative by adopting a broader, more ambitious and people-centred development strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDr. Samuel Ogbuku and his team must understand that history will not judge NDDC by the number of commissioning ceremonies it holds or the number of solar lights installed. History will judge the Commission by whether it helped transform the economic and social conditions of the Niger Delta people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He concluded:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Niger Delta deserves roads that connect communities, bridges that unlock economies, electricity that powers businesses, hospitals that save lives, schools that produce future leaders, skills programmes that create livelihoods and industries that create sustainable wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is development. That is transformation. That is what NDAPDEJ demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Signed:<br>Comrade Freeborn Abraye<br>National Coordinator<br>Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ).<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Ebiowei Gabriel The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[1962,1961],"class_list":["post-5774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-nddc-must-stop-mistaking-solar-light-installation-for-development___comrade-freeborn-abraye-fires-nddc-md-samuel-ogbuku","tag-says-the-niger-delta-needs-transformative-infrastructure"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2747,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/07\/11\/nddc-md-ogbuku-vows-to-prioritize-capital-projects-collaborate-with-state-governors\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":0},"title":"NDDC MD, Ogbuku Vows To Prioritize Capital Projects, Collaborate With State Governors","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has reiterated the commission's commitment to completing capital projects that add value to the region. Speaking at the Niger Delta Stakeholders Pre-Summit Technical Session, Dr. Ogbuku emphasised that the NDDC will only approve projects that align\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Developmental&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Developmental","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/developmental\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/68b86b43-9018-4dae-a263-61e26a040077-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/68b86b43-9018-4dae-a263-61e26a040077-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/68b86b43-9018-4dae-a263-61e26a040077-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/68b86b43-9018-4dae-a263-61e26a040077-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2743,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/07\/10\/otuaro-urges-stakeholders-to-support-developmental-initiatives-says-president-tinubu-has-the-political-will-to-develop-the-niger-delta-region\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":1},"title":"Otuaro Urges Stakeholders To Support Developmental Initiatives, Says President Tinubu Has The Political Will To Develop The Niger Delta Region","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye According to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), President Bola Tinubu has a strong political resolve to promote the Niger Delta's sustainable development, stability, and peace. L-R-: Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro; Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Developmental&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Developmental","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/developmental\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cccf613b-1fa6-42d8-8402-e673b4bc61f0-1.jpg?fit=720%2C515&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cccf613b-1fa6-42d8-8402-e673b4bc61f0-1.jpg?fit=720%2C515&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cccf613b-1fa6-42d8-8402-e673b4bc61f0-1.jpg?fit=720%2C515&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cccf613b-1fa6-42d8-8402-e673b4bc61f0-1.jpg?fit=720%2C515&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2996,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/07\/31\/president-bola-tinubu-is-a-leader-who-prioritizes-youths-development__says-pap-boss-dennis-otuaro\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":2},"title":"\u201cPresident Bola Tinubu Is A Leader Who Prioritizes Youths Development\u201d__Says PAP Boss Dennis Otuaro","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye According to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), President Bola Tinubu is a youth-friendly leader. During the Tuesday \"Let Is Build Together\" theme event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Otuaro made this statement during the NDDC Executive Management Engagement with Ethnic Nationalities\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Opinion&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5720,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/07\/20\/stop-misleading-the-public-with-your-false-entitlement-narratives-and-mentality__comrade-freeborn-abraye-blasts-daniel-ezekiel-says-the-pipeline-surveillance-contract-awarded-to-tom\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":3},"title":"\u201cStop Misleading The Public With Your False Entitlement Narratives And Mentality\u201d__Comrade Freeborn Abraye Blasts Daniel Ezekiel, Says The Pipeline Surveillance Contract Awarded To Tompolo Is Not A Dividend Or Settlement For The Niger Delta Struggle","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022Says Attempts To Portray The Contract As A \u201cCollective Entitlement\u201d Is An Outright Distortion Of History And Facts. The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development and Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, blasts Daniel Perela Ezekiel who Claims he and other Niger Deltans\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3115.jpg?fit=1198%2C558&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3115.jpg?fit=1198%2C558&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3115.jpg?fit=1198%2C558&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3115.jpg?fit=1198%2C558&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3115.jpg?fit=1198%2C558&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":827,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2021\/10\/17\/iyc-accuses-niger-delta-ministers-politicians-for-being-behind-delay-in-constitution-of-nddc-board\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":4},"title":"IYC Accuses Niger Delta Ministers, Politicians For Being Behind Delay In Constitution Of NDDC Board","author":"Coastal Times","date":"October 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Barr. Ebilade Ekerefe, IYC National Spokesman. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has alleged that ministers and other politicians from the Niger Delta region are behind the delay in the constitution of a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In a statement by its spokesman, Ebilade\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Opinion&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img_20211017_141220_869-1.jpg?fit=640%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img_20211017_141220_869-1.jpg?fit=640%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/img_20211017_141220_869-1.jpg?fit=640%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2745,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/07\/11\/nddc-chairman-ebie-calls-for-support-unity-of-stakeholders-at-ndelta-summit\/","url_meta":{"origin":5774,"position":5},"title":"NDDC Chairman, Ebie Calls For Support, Unity Of Stakeholders&#8217; At  N&#8217;Delta Summit","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Niger Delta Stakeholders Pre-Summit Technical Session was held yesterday, and the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, delivered a rallying cry to attendees. He emphasised that the ongoing summit is not just a conference, but a call to action, urging participants to approach the task with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Developmental&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Developmental","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/developmental\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/89eaab7f-741d-48ed-accd-c0acf3d8e4ba-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/89eaab7f-741d-48ed-accd-c0acf3d8e4ba-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/89eaab7f-741d-48ed-accd-c0acf3d8e4ba-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/89eaab7f-741d-48ed-accd-c0acf3d8e4ba-1.jpg?fit=720%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1v8","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4182.jpg?fit=1284%2C729&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5774\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}