Youths and stakeholders from the Niger Delta have been called upon to promote regional development by protecting ongoing and completed community projects.

The appeal was made at the launch of a capacity-building program organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for youths and stakeholders of oil-producing communities. The event took place on Friday in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

The Executive Director, Corporate Services (EDCS) of NDDC, Ifedayo Abegunde, described the initiative as a deliberate step to empower communities to take ownership of NDDC projects. He highlighted the commission’s two-decade commitment to fostering sustainable development through infrastructure provision and youth-focused initiatives.

Abegunde stressed that project sustainability is critical, noting that previous setbacks have delayed progress and reduced returns on investment. He emphasized that NDDC is committed to strengthening community engagement frameworks to ensure effective participation in project ownership and protection.

Earlier, the State Director of NDDC, Engr. Patrick Obayelu, urged communities to safeguard NDDC projects and called on youths to report acts of vandalism.

The Project Director, Ovie Mathias, highlighted the importance of cultivating a culture of ownership, citing instances of vandalized solar lights and other community projects. He confirmed that a monitoring team would be deployed to oversee key projects and ensure their protection.

Mathias also lamented that some youths contribute to project abandonment by demanding money from contractors. “I urge youths to desist from soliciting funds from contractors. The era of collecting money is over. Our communities need quality development projects, yet some of our actions have led to the abandonment of these initiatives,” he said.

The theme of the program, “Capacity Building for Stakeholders across the NDDC Region on Community Ownership and Protection of NDDC Projects”, underscores the commission’s goal of strengthening partnerships with communities to ensure sustainable development and long-term project impact