Ndoma-Egba: How Bureaucracy Fuels Corruption, Inefficiency in NDDC

Former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has highlighted how excessive bureaucracy and political interference have crippled the commission, arguing that red tape has become a breeding ground for corruption and inefficiency.

Speaking during the inaugural edition of The Exchange Podcast hosted by Femi Soneye, Ndoma-Egba said that while the NDDC was a well-intentioned initiative, its impact has been undermined by the absence of a functional master plan and the instability of its leadership structure.

He recalled that the NDDC master plan—developed through wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders including communities, state governments, oil companies, and the federal government—was abandoned shortly after its launch. “It’s like building a house without a plan,” he said, lamenting that the commission continues to operate without a clear developmental blueprint.

According to him, the neglect of the master plan was a “convenience” driven by political interests that see the NDDC as merely a “share of the national cake.”

Ndoma-Egba revealed that efforts to revive the plan during his tenure were cut short after his board was suddenly dissolved through a news broadcast without any formal communication or justification—a recurring issue that, he noted, hinders continuity and effective long-term planning within the commission.

He further illustrated the depth of bureaucratic inefficiency in the NDDC, recalling that a contractor must go through as many as 62 approval stages before receiving payment. “What does that mean? Serious bureaucracy. And what does bureaucracy breed? Inefficiency. And what does inefficiency breed? Corruption,” he stated, describing corruption as often an “opportunistic” outcome of systemic inefficiency rather than deliberate intent.

Ndoma-Egba also recounted how his attempt to probe allegations of contract payment racketeering was violently disrupted. He said thugs stormed the venue at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, where an investigative panel he had set up was to be inaugurated, scattering the meeting.

He concluded by urging that the current NDDC leadership should be allowed to complete its full four-year tenure as prescribed by law, arguing that stability in leadership would enable better planning, reduce distractions, and promote meaningful development across the Niger Delta region.