General
A Citizen’s Assessment of NDDC’s Governing Board and Management
By Jerome-Mario Utomi
This piece stemmed from my recent conversation/encounter with Honourable Udengs Eradiri, former President, of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), former Commissioner for Youth Development, former Commissioner for Environment in Bayelsa state and Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa state. The encounter took place during the recently held Niger Delta Summit 2024, organized by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
Beginning with the assessment of the present governing board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Honourable Udengs described the present board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as among the most disciplined board the Commission has ever had, noting that this is the first time the people of the region are not hearing of bickering in NDDC board.
While he thanked His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu for appointing this calibre of people into the Commission’s board and management, the former President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), also stated as follows; I would like to commend the board for what they are doing. Thanks to Mr. President for appointing this kind of people to the board. The first time we’re not hearing bickering on the NDDC board. By this time, one person will be fighting to be lord over the other. I want to especially commend the person of the Managing Director (MD), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who has demonstrated the capacity to be able to manage various interests. And that’s part of the reason we’re all here. It’s part of managing the interests of the stakeholders.
Eradiri, an Engineer, noted that the Chairman of the Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie is a decent man and not this ambitious kind of persons who want to bring their ambitions to the board and destroy the focus of the institution, adding that the present board has shown that they understand the issues.
“This NDDC board and management have shown that they understand the issues. But like I said, I’m not surprised because of the kind of people that were appointed. Some of them didn’t even know that they would be on this board. Like when I was talking to the chairman. He didn’t lobby for it. They just announced him. So, for him, it is an opportunity to serve the people. As for the Managing Director, he came from the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and IYC is a breeding ground for true leadership. That is why anyone that comes out from the IYC, and is picked to manage the public office, you see some difference in the engagement.”
Still, on the capacity to lead, the former Commissioner said; ”The MD is part of us. We were all agitated until NDDC was created. So, if you are put in an agency that you fought for its creation, you must work well. And people like us who know the MD personally know that this board is one of the most disciplined boards NDDC has ever had. Before, by now, you will have heard that the chairman wants to be OGA of everybody. Others will say no, we no go gree. Before you know it, bickering everywhere at the expense of the group. But that is not the case with the present board and management.”
“As you can see, the Chairman is always leading board members to action. It has never been like this before. For me, this board is one of the best I’ve seen.”
“Under the present board and management, the Niger Delta region is being lit up. The Niger Delta is lit up now. Before, you can’t even walk at night. Everywhere would be dark. No light. Just look at the way they have lit up everywhere. I was flying one day, and I saw the amazing light-ups that you could now see from the skies. It’s nice to see that across the board, there is this even distribution of infrastructures by the NDDC.”
While urging the President to have confidence in this board and management and ensure that all the funds due the commission are released to the agency, the former Commissioner also encouraged Mr President to remove the Commission from TSA to aid efficiency and effectiveness in its performance.
Away from the removal of the Commission from TSA to ensuring the availability of funds for the agency, Idengs has this to say; The NDDC is owed over 2 trillion. The president should give them his support because this leadership is a responsible one. They have shown that they do not have one governorship ambition or the other that usually distracts the board.
Having expressed discipline, I think the president should reward their hard work and commitment to their job by releasing funds to them because we know that those funds will be injected into areas that will affect positively, the lives of the Niger Delta people and make Nigeria a pleasure-filled estate. He, therefore, called on stakeholders to go back home and mobilize support for this NDDC.
Asked about the possibility of the Niger Delta region becoming self-sufficient in food production, Honourable Udengs observed that the Southern part of Nigeria is very fertile but the lands have not been prepared for agriculture and that’s where the intervention agency should come in and ensure that acres of land are cleared across the Niger Delta. Financial aid is made available to farmers, education is given to the farmers on what to do and the market is provided for them to sell their finished produce.
“These are the things that will support agriculture in the Niger Delta. Clear and mechanize the environment, provide access to loans that will support them in farming and a link between the people and the market. That is why we were talking about building agro-villages, villages where people know that if you go there, you buy gaari that is cheap because they can move their goods and process it.”
He stressed that the commission and governors of the state must synergize. The Engineer turned politician further revealed that many years ago, the South-South states governors setup what they referred to as the BRACED Commission – (Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross-river, Edo and Delta) to look at the development of the Niger Delta region.
BRACED, he added, has been in existence for many years. So, what I’m saying is that the government should unite and have a purpose. For now, there’s no purpose. You’re not seeing them support the NDDC other than lip service, you’re not seeing them support the Commission that is supposed to drive economic and infrastructural advancement of the region. They only rule on talk shows. No action. Now, look at the crisis of food in the country. Look at the infrastructural deficit’’.
“The presidency has unbundled power. The Niger Delta has what it takes to generate enough power that can provide 24-hour power beyond Niger Delta. The governors under the BRACED Commission are not even thinking about how to come together and see how they can take advantage of it to create power, make money from it and provide for their citizens. So, the governors of the Niger Delta need to do better than what we’re seeing,” he concluded.
Jerome-Mario Utomi writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached via [email protected], 08032725374
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn