From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Bayelsa
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has held a sensitisation programme for its stakeholders on policy reform and the digitisation of its procurement system as part of efforts to promote transparency, efficiency and accountability in the Commission.
Speaking during the sensitisation programme in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Director, Procurement Department, NDDC, Dr Chuks Osuji, said the initiative was meant to educate key stakeholders, including government officials, procurement officers, consultants and contractors, private-sector vendors, and civil society organisations, on recent reforms and the transition to a fully digitised procurement framework.
He explained: “This effort is part of a broader commitment to modernised procurement practices, which reduces inefficiencies and ensures value for money.”
Osuji appreciated the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for his good works in the Niger Delta region and for moving the Commission from a manual system to a digitised one.
The Director stated: “Digitisation will make the work easier, you can do your bidding from anywhere, as there will not be a bottleneck as in the manual process. It will end nepotism, bureaucracy, and illegality in the process.”
Osuji urged consultants and contractors to take the process seriously, as the NDDC was using the programme to train them on the digitised procurement system.
The facilitator and Head of Procurement, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Mrs Comfort Taavaan-Ogolo, emphasised that the reform was designed to align procurement processes with global best practices while addressing longstanding challenges such as delays, nepotism, lack of transparency and limited access to information.
She also stated that digitisation of the procurement system will enhance competitiveness and provide a level playing field for all participants, as the reform was not just about technology but about building trust, improving service delivery, and strengthening Institutional integrity.
Participants were introduced to the features of the electronic procurement platform, including online bid submission, real-time tracking of procurement activities, and improved data management systems.
