NDDC Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, shakes hands with the Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Dr Godwin Ogedegbe, during the opening of a three-day sensitisation programme for Contractors and Consultants in Port Harcourt.With them are the NDDC Director, Human Resources and Administration, Kelechi Nwelue (2nd right); the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert (right); and the National spokesperson, PANDEF’s Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi (left).
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged contractors and consultants handling its projects to embrace early intervention and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to prevent conflicts from delaying project delivery and undermining sustainable development in the region.
The commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the charge on Wednesday in Port Harcourt at the opening of a three-day sensitisation programme for contractors and consultants.
In a statement signed and issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama,
Director, Corporate Affairs of the commission, Ogbuku, who was represented by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, said disagreements could arise during project execution, but stressed that the speed and professionalism with which they were resolved were critical to the success of projects.
He said every project was more than a contract, adding that when conflicts stalled development, the consequences extended beyond contractors and the NDDC to communities waiting for infrastructure and other interventions.
According to him, unresolved disputes could delay completion, increase costs and strain relationships among the commission, contractors, consultants and host communities.
“We want our contractors and consultants to understand that you are not merely participants in project execution; you are also critical first responders in conflict management. You are often closest to the projects, closest to the community and closest to emerging issues,” Ogbuku stated.
He urged stakeholders to build a culture of early intervention, stressing that conflicts should be identified and managed before they escalate into crises.
“We should not wait for conflicts to become crises before we act. Let us identify them early, manage them professionally and resolve them effectively,” he said.
The managing director noted that preventing conflicts, resolving disputes promptly and delivering projects successfully would contribute to a more peaceful, productive and prosperous Niger Delta.
Also speaking, the Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Department, Dr Godwin Ogedegbe, said the programme was organised to promote sustainable development in the region.
Ogedegbe noted that although the Niger Delta was endowed with abundant resources and vibrant communities, its complex social, economic and environmental realities could generate tensions and disputes capable of undermining development projects if left unmanaged.
He said conflict sensitivity required deliberate recognition and understanding of the communities where the NDDC operated, adding that the commission’s interventions should foster inclusion, trust and cooperation rather than create divisions.
According to him, ADR provides a structured, efficient and peaceful mechanism for resolving disputes through dialogue, fairness and mutual respect, rather than confrontation and litigation.
He urged participants to share their experiences and embrace the principles discussed during the programme, saying stakeholders could collectively build a culture of development anchored on peace, inclusivity and sustainability.
In his keynote address, titled, “Conflict Sensitivity and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Application in Project Execution for Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta,” the Dean, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Olawale, advised contractors and consultants to recognise conflict risks early and select appropriate ADR processes.
Olawale said doing so would help keep projects on course while protecting relationships, public value and sustainable development outcomes.
He emphasised that a technically sound project could fail if relationships, expectations and grievances were not properly managed.
The programme was organised by the NDDC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Department.