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 jeromeutomi@yahoo.com, 08032725374
General
FG Moves to Fast-Track Household Cash Transfer Scheme

By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is fast-tracking the implementation phase of its economic and financial inclusion strategy aimed at improving access to economic opportunities for Nigerians.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ibrahim Hadejia, at the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee of the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).
He said that “Financial inclusion is not just about having a bank account—it means access to quality services, credit, and the visibility that digital platforms offer.”
The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The federal government established an inter-agency task force to address challenges delaying President Bola Tinubu’s approved conditional cash transfers to 15 million vulnerable households.
The task force includes the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
The mandate of the taskforce goal is to unlock bottlenecks and fast-track the distribution of critical financial support to Nigeria’s most vulnerable.
The meeting also endorsed steps to work with state governments in localising data from the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access in Nigeria (EFInA) Access to Financial Services survey – a biennial study conducted by the EFInA.
Mr Hadejia explained that the meeting brought together high-level stakeholders from government agencies, financial institutions, and academia to align on the President’s vision and execution roadmap.
“We are off to a very good start. What has led to the success of what we’ve done so far is alignment and inclusive stakeholder engagement,” he said.
On hsi part, the committee’s Secretary, Mr Nurudeen Zauro, said the meeting also approved PreCEFI’s strategic roadmap and governance structure.
Mr Zauro, who is also the Technical Advisor to the President on Financial Inclusion, said ” an inter-agency committee has been established to address delays in the disbursement of conditional cash transfers to 15 million households as mandated by President Tinubu.
“We will be presenting the report to the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors Forum to ensure data is domesticated and acted upon at the subnational level.”
Also, Director-General of NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that digital identity plays a foundational role in achieving inclusion goals.
“The beauty of the NIN is that it bridges the financial divide. It provides access to health, education, and agricultural services and strengthens national data infrastructure,” she said.
The Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion at the CBN, Mrs Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, urged the committee to focus on implementable outcomes that serve those at the base of the pyramid.
According to her, financial inclusion is one of the eight reform pillars of the President’s agenda.
General
Senate to Finalise Passage of Tax Reform Bills Today

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has passed two out of four major tax reform bills, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing overhaul of the nation’s tax administration framework.
The two bills, one seeking to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and another to establish the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill 2025 along with the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill 2025, were passed following a clause-by-clause consideration during the Committee of the Whole and their subsequent third reading on the Senate floor.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in October 2024 transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
However, the bills were met with opposition from many quarters, particularly from Northerners, who lamented that the bills put their interests at stake.
During deliberations, the upper chamber went through the clause-by-clause consideration of the four key tax reform bills submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Mr Sani Musa.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the progress, expressing optimism that the reform bills would not only enhance governance but also revolutionise tax collection and distribution across the country.
“These bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected and shared in Nigeria,” he said.
He further assured that the remaining two bills would be finalised today (Thursday), even if it required extended sitting hours.
“We are committed to concluding the outstanding bills tomorrow, even if we have to stay here until 10 p.m.,” Mr Akpabio said.
General
FG Reiterates Actualisation of $3bn Agge Seaport

By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has pledged its commitment towards the actualisation of the $3 billion Agge Deep Seaport project to promote job creation, economic development and attract local and foreign investments to the Niger Delta region.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this at the weekend during the flag-off of the marine safety sensitisation and distribution of life jackets to waterways users in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The minister said the realisation of the Agge Sea Port Project in Bayelsa State was part of President Bola Tinubu administration’s alignment with the broader marine and blue economy vision which is part of its transformative agenda to revive the economy.
Mr Oyetola disclosed that the ministry was working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Agge Deep Seaport becomes a reality in record time.
He said the port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-south, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond.
On his part, the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Douye Diri for his initiatives and his administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the federal government, he added that the port will also open up new frontiers in logistics, fisheries, ship-building, and tourism.
Speaking on the distribution of life jackets to waterways users, the minister said the initiative was in continuation of the implementation of the federal government’s national safety initiative that speaks directly to the value the administration placed on human lives.
“Today, we are here in Bayelsa State to fulfill that same promise, distributing 3,500 life jackets to users of inland waterways in this great state.
“This landmark initiative, launched under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is not just symbolic; it is strategic, proactive, and long overdue. It is our direct response to the alarming rate of boat mishaps and the heartbreaking fatalities that have plagued our waterways for far too long.
“As we all know, water transportation remains the most viable means of connectivity for many of our rural and riverine communities, yet it is also one of the riskiest when safety protocols are ignored or unavailable.
“What we are doing here today is saving lives. It is that simple. With these life jackets, we are empowering our waterways users, fishermen, traders, students, and transport operators with the basic tools to survive and be safe.
“It is our firm belief that no one should lose their life simply because they had to cross a river or travel by boat. The distribution of life jackets to the 12 selected states in this first phase represents one of the most comprehensive federal responses in recent times to the persistent safety challenges on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
He appealed to the national government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.
Represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.
Mr Diri assured the federal government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, and called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders including development partners.
“We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.
“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways,” he said.
-
Feature/OPED5 years ago
Davos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years ago
Estranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years ago
Sort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years ago
Subsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years ago
First Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years ago
Highest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years ago
How To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN