Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched a significant channelisation project for Kolo Creek, covering 17 communities between Okarki-Otuogidi and the Ogbia regions in Rivers and Bayelsa states. The project, announced by NDDC Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku, aims to address chronic flooding affecting the communities along the East-West Road’s Ahoada axis.

Speaking at the project’s groundbreaking in Okarki, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ogbuku emphasized that the channelisation will not only reduce the risk of flooding but also support economic activities, enhance aquatic life, and improve public health by minimizing the spread of water-borne diseases. “We have started the project, and we will complete it on schedule,” Ogbuku assured the local residents.

The project is part of NDDC’s broader agenda to foster sustainable development across the Niger Delta. The initiative, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aligns with the commission’s commitment to long-term infrastructure and environmental improvements in the region.

NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, highlighted the channelisation of Kolo Creek as a landmark achievement under Ogbuku’s leadership, marking a pivotal moment for the commission’s current management. He commended the project as an example of the NDDC’s dedication to transformative regional initiatives.

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The ceremony also saw Okarki’s Traditional Ruler, King Elijah Harry Aduan, honor the NDDC Managing Director with the chieftaincy title “Itonji Oka-Akie I” (Light of the People) of Okarki Kingdom. Expressing gratitude, Aduan noted, “We are delighted as a people and wish to thank the NDDC for initiating the clearing of the creek blockages to ensure a free flow of water that will enhance our economic activities.”

Beyond this project, the NDDC is building emergency shelters in flood-prone areas, including Otuokpoti in Bayelsa’s Ogbia Local Government Area. Ogbuku outlined that these facilities, which will serve as vital refuges during crises, are equipped with schools, hospitals, police posts, and recreation centers. Six such shelters are currently under construction across Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.