The Bureau of Public Procurement has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission for initiating reforms aimed at digitising its procurement processes to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability.

Speaking at the NDDC Procurement Policy Reform and Digitisation Stakeholders’ Sensitisation and Training Summit in Port Harcourt, the Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, described the initiative as a significant step towards modernising public sector operations.
Adedokun said the transition to paperless governance had become imperative as government institutions seek to reduce delays, eliminate waste and improve service delivery.

According to him, public procurement remains central to the execution of government policies and must embrace modern technology to boost productivity and strengthen public confidence.

“Procurement lies at the heart of public service delivery. It determines how resources are allocated, how projects are executed, and ultimately, how development reaches our people,” he said.

The BPP boss stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration in ensuring a seamless transition to digital operations, noting that the reforms align with the broader agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a more responsive and citizen-focused public sector.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the sensitisation workshop formed part of the Commission’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and adopt innovative solutions in line with global best practices in governance and service delivery.

He stated that the Commission was implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration in the Niger Delta region, while commending the BPP for supporting the Commission and facilitating the speedy completion of projects.
Ogbuku noted that the workshop came at a critical period when public institutions across the country were embracing reforms aimed at improving governance systems, eliminating inefficiencies and rebuilding public trust.

He said empowering stakeholders, contractors and service providers with the required knowledge would accelerate development and create sustainable value across the Niger Delta.

“We are not only reforming, but we are also transforming the Niger Delta region,” he stated.
Ogbuku explained that the Commission’s reforms would move procurement processes from manual, paper-based operations to a fully digital platform designed to improve accessibility, reduce delays and minimise opportunities for corruption.

According to him, digitisation of procurement processes goes beyond technological advancement and represents a critical governance reform aimed at promoting transparency, improving service delivery and ensuring responsible management of public resources.

Earlier, the NDDC Director of Procurement, Chuks Osuji, said the policy reform and digitisation initiative would improve workflow, eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen accountability in the Commission’s procurement system.

He added that all contractors engaging with the Commission would henceforth operate through the online procurement platform, which would also provide an effective feedback mechanism for stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of contractors and consultants, Maraizu Uche lauded the initiative and pledged their cooperation towards ensuring a seamless transition to the digital platform.

He, however, appealed to the Commission to review its payment system to address delays in settling executed contracts.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Best Procurement Practices and Digital System for the NDDC,” was held across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has intensified pressure on the Federal Government over the controversial $460 million Abuja CCTV project, demanding the immediate disclosure of all local contractors, subcontractors, consultants and vendors linked to the deal.

SERAP’s fresh demand followed revelations by the Federal Ministry of Finance that it had no detailed records identifying local companies that benefited from funds tied to the Chinese-backed security project.

In a letter dated May 15, 2026 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, R.O. Omachi, the government admitted that although local subcontractors “may have been engaged,” there were no records showing specific Nigerian firms that directly received payments from the Chinese loan.

Reacting in a letter dated May 23, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP described the disclosure as partial compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered in May 2023 by Justice Emeka Nwite.

The organisation expressed concern that the Ministry only released limited information after contempt proceedings were initiated and a Notice to Show Cause served in January 2026.

“Nigerians still do not know the identities of local contractors involved in the project. The absence of this information raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability and record keeping,” SERAP stated.

The group warned that failure to fully comply with the court judgment could undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic accountability and deny citizens access to crucial information on public spending.

SERAP also queried the whereabouts of 6,035 project items reportedly undelivered under the contract, insisting that the government must explain whether payments were made for the missing equipment, whether contractors defaulted and whether any effort was made to recover public funds.

According to the Ministry, inventory records showed that 61,970 units of equipment — including GOTA phones, data cards, servers, LED monitors and communication infrastructure — were delivered out of an expected 68,005 units.

The Ministry further disclosed that the Federal Government received $399.5 million from the Export-Import Bank of China for the National Public Security Communication System project, while Nigeria contributed $70.5 million as counterpart funding.

SERAP, however, maintained that key questions remained unanswered, particularly regarding the actual installation and functionality of CCTV cameras across Abuja.

“The Ministry has failed to clarify how many cameras were installed, where they were installed, whether they are operational and whether the project delivered value for money,” the organisation said.

It added that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how the borrowed funds were spent, especially amid worsening insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory and across the country.

The group urged the Federal Government to immediately publish the names of all Nigerian companies and consultants involved in the project, disclose payments made to each contractor and provide certificates of completion alongside details of the project’s implementation status.

SERAP warned that it would proceed with contempt proceedings against the Ministry of Finance if the requested information was not released within 48 hours.

SERAP Demands Full Disclosure of Beneficiaries in $460m Abuja CCTV Project

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has intensified pressure on the Federal Government over the controversial $460 million Abuja CCTV project, demanding the immediate disclosure of all local contractors, subcontractors, consultants and vendors linked to the deal.

SERAP’s fresh demand followed revelations by the Federal Ministry of Finance that it had no detailed records identifying local companies that benefited from funds tied to the Chinese-backed security project.

In a letter dated May 15, 2026 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, R.O. Omachi, the government admitted that although local subcontractors “may have been engaged,” there were no records showing specific Nigerian firms that directly received payments from the Chinese loan.

Reacting in a letter dated May 23, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP described the disclosure as partial compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered in May 2023 by Justice Emeka Nwite.

The organisation expressed concern that the Ministry only released limited information after contempt proceedings were initiated and a Notice to Show Cause served in January 2026.

“Nigerians still do not know the identities of local contractors involved in the project. The absence of this information raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability and record keeping,” SERAP stated.

The group warned that failure to fully comply with the court judgment could undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic accountability and deny citizens access to crucial information on public spending.

SERAP also queried the whereabouts of 6,035 project items reportedly undelivered under the contract, insisting that the government must explain whether payments were made for the missing equipment, whether contractors defaulted and whether any effort was made to recover public funds.

According to the Ministry, inventory records showed that 61,970 units of equipment — including GOTA phones, data cards, servers, LED monitors and communication infrastructure — were delivered out of an expected 68,005 units.

The Ministry further disclosed that the Federal Government received $399.5 million from the Export-Import Bank of China for the National Public Security Communication System project, while Nigeria contributed $70.5 million as counterpart funding.

SERAP, however, maintained that key questions remained unanswered, particularly regarding the actual installation and functionality of CCTV cameras across Abuja.

“The Ministry has failed to clarify how many cameras were installed, where they were installed, whether they are operational and whether the project delivered value for money,” the organisation said.

It added that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how the borrowed funds were spent, especially amid worsening insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory and across the country.

The group urged the Federal Government to immediately publish the names of all Nigerian companies and consultants involved in the project, disclose payments made to each contractor and provide certificates of completion alongside details of the project’s implementation status.

SERAP warned that it would proceed with contempt proceedings against the Ministry of Finance if the requested information was not released within 48 hours.

Fresh concerns over ethnic domination and political exclusion have surfaced in Rivers State following the emergence of what critics describe as a tightly controlled political structure dominated by leaders from the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.

The debate, which has gained traction across political circles and social media platforms, centres on the concentration of strategic political positions among key figures linked to the evolving alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress blocs loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

At the heart of the controversy is the claim that the major power centres within both parties are controlled by politicians from Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, a predominantly Ikwerre-speaking axis of the state.

Among those frequently cited are Wike himself; the acting chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Tony Okocha; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule; and House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who is reportedly being projected in some quarters as a possible successor to the Brick House, not so long after 16 straight years of Ikwerre sons governance.

Critics also point to the leadership of the PDP in the state under Chukwuemeka Aaron as further evidence of what they describe as an entrenched political dominance by one ethnic bloc.

The development has triggered resentment among other ethnic nationalities in Rivers State, particularly the Ijaw, Ogoni, Ekpeye and Ogba groups, many of whom argue that the state’s political structure no longer reflects the multi-ethnic character upon which Rivers was founded.

Political observers say the complaints reflect growing anxiety over inclusiveness ahead of the 2027 governorship race, especially amid ongoing realignments within the state’s political landscape.

Some stakeholders from minority ethnic groups have accused the major political actors of reducing other communities to mere “foot soldiers” and “praise singers” despite their electoral contributions and demographic significance.

The controversy has also revived long-standing conversations about zoning, equity and fair representation in Rivers politics, with many insisting that no single ethnic nationality should dominate the governorship, party leadership and legislative structure simultaneously.

Analysts warn that unless political parties address the grievances through broader consultations and inclusive power-sharing arrangements, the tensions could deepen ethnic divisions and reshape political alliances ahead of future elections in the oil-rich state.

The Ogbobiri Asawo of the Jumbo Major House in Grand Bonny Kingdom has condemned the death of Mr Ernest Jabez Oko Jumbo at the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) plant in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, demanding an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Eric Rogas Jumbo, and Media and Communications Officer, Comrade Godswill Lawson Jumbo, the group described the incident as shocking and deeply painful.

According to the statement, the deceased, a supervisor with Amaidiem, reportedly died on Thursday, May 21, 2026, while carrying out official duties at the NLNG site.

The organisation expressed concern that the incident occurred barely one month after another member of the family allegedly lost his life under similar circumstances at the same facility.

“This tragedy comes barely a month after another member of our family lost his life in a similar incident at the same site. Two sons lost in quick succession, from the same location, under circumstances that are yet to be fully explained,” the statement said.

The group condemned what it described as recurring loss of lives at the facility, insisting that the safety of workers must not be treated with disregard.

“We condemn this recurring loss of life in the strongest terms. It is unacceptable, and the Jumbo Major House Ogbobiri Asawo will not stand by while the lives of our people are treated with disregard,” it added.

The group extended condolences to the family of the deceased and called on NLNG, security agencies, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders to launch an independent investigation into the incident.

It warned against any attempt to suppress facts surrounding the death, stressing that accountability must prevail.

The organisation also appealed to aggrieved family members and residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that necessary steps were being taken to ensure justice.

“The Ogbobiri Asawo will not relent until the circumstances surrounding both incidents are fully investigated and those responsible are held accountable. The safety and dignity of our sons working in these facilities are non-negotiable,” the statement added.
The group said it would continue to update the public as developments unfold.