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Tag: NDDC

  • Boards dissolution: Ogbuku reemerges as Sole Administrator of NDDC

    Boards dissolution: Ogbuku reemerges as Sole Administrator of NDDC

    Samuel Ogbuku has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) to superintend over the Niger Delta Development Commission till a new board is constituted by President Bola Tinubu.

    The appointment which now makes the immediate past MD a sole administrator over the commission was contained in a June 21 letter signed by Permanent Secretary of supervising Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Shuaib Belgore, to Ogbuku.

    The letter stated, “Following termination of the Boards of Federal Government Parastatals by the President June 19, 2023, with exception of Councils and Commissions listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 152 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I write to inform you of this directive.

    You are required to provide a weekly report on your financial and procurement activities for onward transmission to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

    President Tinubu had on Monday approved the dissolution of Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government owned Companies.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls the federal government had last Monday sent all federal agencies packing.

  • Senate confirms reappointment of Abike Dabiri as NiDCOM boss

    Senate confirms reappointment of Abike Dabiri as NiDCOM boss

    The Senate has confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Abike Dabiri-Erewa for reappointment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM.

    The confirmation of the appointment during plenary on Tuesday was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, chaired by Senator Michael Nnachi (PDP Ebonyi).

    Senator Nnachi, while presenting the report, said the nominee possesses the technical and academic qualifications to function optimally and effectively in the position.

    According to him, there was no petition against the nominee, adding that she was the one who sponsored the bill for the establishment of NiDCOM when she was a member of the House of Representatives.

    He commended President Buhari for the re-appointment given the steering performance of the nominee during her first term in office.

    Similarly, the Senate confirmed the appointment of the President’s three nominees’ for appointment as board members of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

    Their confirmation followed the presentation, consideration and adoption of a report of the committee on NDDC, chaired by Senator Amos Bulus.

    The confirmed nominees were Benard Oboatarihieyeren Okwmagba from Delta, Patric Aisowieren (Edo) and Kyrian Chidiebere Uchegbu (Imo).

    The Red Chamber also confirmed the nomination of Mrs Funke Opeke for appointment as a member of Universal Service Provision (USP) Board after the presentation , consideration of the report of the Committee on Communications.

  • Senate probes NDDC over alleged unauthorised expenditure

    Senate probes NDDC over alleged unauthorised expenditure

    Senate on Tuesday at plenary constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged unauthorised spending by Niger- Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.

    Senate also stood down consideration of report of 2023 budget estimates of the commission.

    Senate resolution , followed a motion by Sen.Adamu Alero (PDP- Kebbi), alleging unauthorised spending by NDDC on its 2021,2022 and 2023 budget estimates.

    Aleros’ motion and objection to consideration of the budgets was after reports on three budget estimates of NDDC was presented by Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Sen.Amos Bulus.

    Alero said it was a breach of the constitution by NDDC to engage on expenditure on the budget extimates without approval of the National Assembly.

    Other Senators, who raised concern over the consideration of the budgets were Senators Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) and Solomon Adeola.(APC-Lagos).

    Adeola said there was an urgent need to carefully look at the 2023 budget estimates of NDDC as clarifications and further information was required on figures presented on the budget.

    But Sen. Degi Biobarakuma (PDP-Bayelsa) urged the Senate to consider the 2023 budget as the budget extimates of the commission was presented before the national assembly on time.

    President of Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan said there was an authorised expenditure from 2021 and 2022 budgets of the commission.

    “We are faced with situation where expenditure was done probably for more than six months or probably 80 per cent of the expenditure has been done and we need to know what has happened.”

    He said the term of reference of the committee was to investigate the financial activities of NDDC in the 2021 and 2022 budget estimates and report back in one week.

    Senate consequently stood down consideration of the 2023 budget of the NDDC for further information and clarification on the figures contained in the budget and set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged unauthorised financial activities of NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.

    The committee, which has Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba ) as Chairman was given one week to turn in its report.

    Other members of the committee includes Senators Seriake Dickson, Uche Ekwunife, Abdullahi Yahaya,Saidu Alkali, Adetunbi Olubumi and Sadik Sulaiman.

  • NDDC proposes N2.28trn for 2021, 2022, 2023 Consolidated Budget

    NDDC proposes N2.28trn for 2021, 2022, 2023 Consolidated Budget

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has proposed to spend N2.28 trillion for the three consolidated financial years of 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls the National Assembly had withheld the budget of NDDC for three years because the commission had been without a governing board.

    The federal government had in January 2023 inaugurated the governing board of NDDC and appointed Lauretta Onochie as Chairman and Samuel Ogbukwu as Managing Director.

    On Thursday Ogbukwu appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC for the budget presentation and defence and disclosed that an aggregate expenditure of N485.7 billion is proposed for the commission in 2021, N928.2 billion in 2022 and N876 billion for 2023.

    He said the consolidated appropriation bill christened: “Budget of Rewind to Rebirth” is based on assumptions of revenue such as; revenue brought forward, federal government contribution, unpaid arrears and recoveries by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ecological fund, oil companies contribution and other realised income.

    The Managing Director said the revenue estimate include cash brought forward of N35.5 billion in 2021, N3billion in 2022 and N5 billion in 2023; federal government statutory transfers of N85 billion for 2021 and N150 billion for 2022 and 2023 each fiscal year.

    “Unpaid arrears of N100billion from the Federal Government for 2021, N504billion for 2022 and N450billion for 2023 being expected revenue from the Federal Government through recovery by the EFCC from oil companies.

    “Expected revenue of N250 billion from the Oil & Gas Companies for 2021, and also for 2022 and also for 2023 fiscal year. Expected N15 billion from Ecological fund for 2021, N20.7billion for 2022 and N20 billion for 2023.

    “N200 million is expected from internally generated (bank interests and sales of boarded items) for 2021 while N500million is expected in 2022 and 2023 respectively.”

    According to Ogbukwu, out of the total budget estimates for 2021 personnel cost is N28.2 billion while N34.2 billion is proposed for 2022 and 2023.

    The NDDC boss said overhead costs are projected at N14.5 billion for 2021 and N16.5 Billion for 2022 and N17.4 billion for 2023.

    On the capital expenditure he said an aggregate sum of N440 billion is proposed in 2021 while N873 billion is proposed for 2022 and N820.5 Billion for 2023.

    Ogbukwu said N2.9 billion is proposed for the Internal Capital (Fixed Assets budget for 2021 while N3.7 Billion for 2022 and 2023

    On the performance of the 2020 budget, the managing director said: “a total of N453.2 billion was appropriated for expenditure in the 2020 approved budget. This comprises N 41.3billion (9 percent) for recurrent and N411.8 billion and (91 percent) for capital expenditure.

    “A total of N164.1billion was received from various sources to fund the NDDC 2020 approved budget in the budget year 2020 (Jun 1st 2020 Mar 31st 2021). This comprises N32.6 billion representing (51%) from the Federal Government and N119 billion representing (37%) from Oil & Gas Companies. We had a carry forward of N12 billion from 2019 epresenting (100%) and additional inflow of N469 million representing (235%) from other sources which includes sales of tender form, sale of assets, excess bank charges recoveries etc.

    “Actual expenditure amounted to N157billion from Jun 1st 2020 till March 31st 2021. This comprises N20.7 Billion for personnel, N6.6Billion overheads, N814 Million Internal capitals and N129 billion capitals putting the performance at 35%.

    “Greater portion of Commission’s available financial resources were directed to completion of critical infrastructure under emergency rehabilitation of failed roads in the Niger Delta and clearing of waterways in ecological sectors.

    “In view of this, a total of N129 billion was paid on developmental projects/programmes in the fiscal year, which elapsed March 31st 2021 putting the performance at 32%.”

    In his remarks before the interface went closed door, the chairman, House committee on NDDC, Tunji Ojo (APC, Ondo) vows to put the commission on its toes to implement its mandate of developing the Niger-Delta region.

    He tasked the commission to embark on critical project that would add value to the people of the region, saying it was high time the NDDC serves the purpose and appreciated the destinies of the Niger Delta region.

    “You need to implement critical projects that will add value to our people. The people are in need of renewed hope and this should be provided.

    “When we need to stand against you we will and when we need to cooperate with you we will not hesitate. The overall good of the region is our priority.

    “The people are hungry for development not ego fight, blame game or bulk passing. the people of the region need hope. we can’t afford to loose this,” Ojo said.

  • NDDC board faces dissolution over infighting

    NDDC board faces dissolution over infighting

    Speculations are rife that the board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) could be dissolved following the infighting that has engulfed the interventionist agency.

    The infighting has continued unabated few months after the inauguration of the new helmsmen in charge of the body.

    It was learnt that the twin issue of the ongoing squabbles between the board and the management as well as reported allegation of anti-party activities levelled against some top executives of the agency during the just concluded 2023 elections had ignited fears that the authorities in the Presidency and the incoming administration might wield the big stick against the new managers in the commission.

    Findings show that the infighting within the body has been between three-man management team and the board made up of the chairperson, nine representatives of the member states and zonal representatives.

    Specifically, the recent $15billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the commission’s management and a United States-based outfit for the construction of a railway line linking the nine-member states had pitched the three-man management team headed by the managing director, Mr. Sam Ogbuku, against the board led by Ms. Lauretta Onochie.

    Onochie had accused the Ogbuku-led board of acting unilaterally, adding that the deal was fraudulent and shady. Her assertion followed weeks of bickering as the management and board of the commission operated at cross-purposes.

    She said in her statement, “My attention and that of the entire board have been drawn to a publication in some national dailies of the purported signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between a US firm, Atlanta Global Resources Inc. and NDDC, whose board I chair, for the construction of a mega rail project across the Niger Delta from Lagos to Calabar. This was done without my knowledge and without authorization, nor consent of the board. Everything about this shady MoU is illegal,” she said.

    Reports say  the internal squabble and rivalry had attracted the attention of the Presidency, which was said to be uncomfortable with the latest development in the commission.

    It was learnt that the Presidency was reportedly irked that the board and management had lost focus and direction.

    Similarly, it was  gathered that the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had been inundated with reports that some top executives of the commission worked against him and All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election.

    Notable members of the board and management of the agency were alleged to have heavily funded and patronised the opposition apparently to ensure the defeat of APC in the presidential poll.

    It was  gathered that Tinubu was disturbed and unhappy about the reports.

    Consequently, it was gathered that Ogbuku and other top executives of commission had virtually relocated to Abuja, to stave off any unsavory development.

    Ogbuku was reported to have sought the support of the vice president-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima and members of the inner circle of the president-elect to preserve the status quo in the commission.

    A key member of the Tinubu’s inner circle and notable APC chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, was reported to be one of the contacts of Ogbuku to secure the nod of the incoming administration to keep his job.

    Sources told pressmen that Ogbuku has always been seen around Shetimma in Abuja, lately.

    “Fears of possible dissolution of our board and management by the Presidency, especially by the incoming administration, are palpable in the commission (NDDC) now.  Panic has gripped members of the board and management. The initial fear was about the report being peddled against members of our management team, especially the managing director and some members of the board – that they worked against the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the presidential election.

    “They were accused of plotting the defeat of APC and that they mobilised and funded the opposition to humiliate the President-elect and APC. These reports were said to have been presented to the President-elect. So, there is fire on the mountain. The fear is that the President-elect may dissolve the board along with other boards of the federal agencies shortly after his assumption of office on May 29th, 2023.

    “The fear is genuine and real and our managing director and other notable members of the management and board are virtually in Abuja to prevent any ugly occurrence. They are engaging the support of many VIPs, including the Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shetimma, to plead for leniency and possible reprieve,” one of our sources said.

    “We were battling the political issue before the war between the management and the board blew open. The chairman of our board, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, came up with damaging reports, indicting the management. She took the management to the cleaners. She has been everywhere in the media indicating the management over the $15 billion MoU the management signed with a US-based firm. She damaged the management in her various media statements, accusing the management of being dubious and fraudulent.”

     

  • What Niger Delta needs now is training, empowerment and jobs – NDDC online poll results

    What Niger Delta needs now is training, empowerment and jobs – NDDC online poll results

    Two online polls by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on LinkedIn and Twitter have revealed that most people want the NDDC to invest in training, empowerment, and jobs for the region.

    The results reflect the region’s needs and aspirations for more vocational training, employment, and empowerment opportunities.

    The polls, which ran for two weeks on the NDDC’s LinkedIn and Twitter platforms, stated that the NDDC wanted to hear from the public what areas or sectors it should prioritize for more investment and attention.

    Training/Empowerment/Jobs: The Topmost Priority
    According to the poll results, Training/Empowerment/Jobs is the area or sector that needs the most attention or investment from the NDDC, with 43.4 percent of respondents on Twitter and 52 percent of respondents on LinkedIn choosing this option. This is not surprising, given the high levels of unemployment and poverty in the Niger Delta region.

    The Niger Delta region has a young population structure, with about 60 percent of the population below the age of 30 years. The region also has a low dependency ratio of about 0.6, meaning there are more working-age people than dependents.

    The NDDC’s focus on training, empowerment, and job creation is critical for the region’s development and can help to create a more vibrant and sustainable economy.

    One of the participants, who chose this option, commented: “The NDDC should invest more in skills training and empowerment programs for the youths and women in the region. This will enable them to start businesses or get employed in existing ones.

    This will also reduce the dependence on oil and gas and diversify the region’s economy.”
    Another participant, who also chose this option, said: “The NDDC should partner with private sector organizations and international donors to provide more opportunities for training and employment in various sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, ICT, renewable energy, etc.

    This will also improve the skills and capacities of the people in the region and make them more competitive in the global market.”
    Electricity/Roads/Bridges: The Second Most Popular Option
    Electricity/Roads/Bridges was the second most popular option, with 37 percent of respondents on Twitter and 28 percent of the respondents on LinkedIn choosing this area or sector.

    This is also not surprising, given the poor state of infrastructure in the region. The NDDC’s investment in electricity, roads, and bridges can help improve connectivity and access to services, which can positively impact the region’s economy and quality of life.

    One of the participants, who chose this option, Eric Aigbe, said: “Creating an enabling environment is it for me. This includes the provision of electricity and construction of roads and bridges.”
    Another participant, who also chose this option, said: “The NDDC should improve the quality and coverage of roads and bridges in the region. This will facilitate the transportation and movement of goods and people across the region. It will also reduce accidents and losses due to bad roads and bridges.”

    Agriculture/Fisheries and Small/Medium Business Development: The Least Popular Options
    Agriculture/Fisheries and Small/Medium Business Development received the lowest number of votes, with 7.3 percent and 12.3 percent of respondents on Twitter and 4 percent and 16 percent of respondents on LinkedIn choosing these options, respectively.

    While these areas or sectors are essential for the region’s development, it is clear from the poll results that Training/Empowerment/Jobs and Electricity/Roads/Bridges are the most pressing concerns for the people of the Niger Delta.

    One of the participants, who chose Agriculture/Fisheries, said: “The NDDC should support the development of agriculture and fisheries in the region. This will enhance food security and income generation for the people. It will also reduce environmental degradation and pollution caused by oil spills and gas flaring.”

    Another participant, who chose Small/Medium Business Development, said: “The NDDC should promote the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in the region. This will create more jobs and wealth for the people. It will also stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.”

  • NDDC targets 3-month completion of electricity project for seven LGAs in Ondo +Photos

    NDDC targets 3-month completion of electricity project for seven LGAs in Ondo +Photos

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has set a 90-day completion target for its 132/33kv sub-station in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

    Speaking during an inspection visit to the project site at Okitipupa, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Mr. Charles Ogunmola, stressed that the contractor must work towards meeting the completion target since the project has hit 95 percent execution.”

    Mr. Ogunmola stated that the NDDC is committed to providing electricity to oil-producing communities in Ondo South Senatorial District that have been without electricity for the past 15 years, adding that the speedy completion of the sub-station in Okitipupa will help achieve that goal and move the people from the 20th century to the 21st.

    Mr. Ogunmola said: “We are committed to lighting up the seven local government areas and the oil-producing communities in Ondo South Senatorial District that have not been connected to the National Grid for the past 15 years.”

    According to the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, completion of the sub-station project will boost economic activities in Ondo State, address the people’s needs and improve their living standards.

    He said: “Access to electricity is essential for economic development and improving the quality of life. The lack of electricity has hindered growth and development in many communities in the Niger Delta region. Therefore, NDDC’s efforts to provide electricity to these communities will have a significant impact on their lives and contribute to the overall development of the region.”
    Mr Ogunmola added: “The completion of the sub-station in Okitipupa is part of NDDC’s mandate to provide infrastructure and development projects in the Niger Delta region. The Commission is committed to fulfilling this mandate by completing ongoing projects, and ensuring that projects are completed on time.”

    Noting that the NDDC is also working towards diversifying the region’s economy from oil-dependent to other sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, said, “the provision of electricity will stimulate economic activities in the region, attract investment and create job opportunities. This is a step towards achieving sustainable development and reducing poverty in the region.”

    He was accompanied on the project inspection visit by the NDDC Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr. Nelson Onwo, and the Director of the Commission’s Ondo State Office, Mr. Salami Salami.

  • Suspend release of N15bn counterpart fund to FG, Reps direct NDDC

    Suspend release of N15bn counterpart fund to FG, Reps direct NDDC

    The House of Representatives has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to suspend the release of N15 billion counterpart funding requested by the Federal Government, pending the approval of the Commission’s budget by the House.

    This was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Uyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom) on Thursday at plenary.

    Debating the motion, Idem noted that the Ministry of Niger Delta was inaugurated and commissioned by the Presidency to attend to intervention and humanitarian needs of the Niger Delta region of the country and promote the physical development of the region.

    The lawmaker noted that since its inauguration, the Ministry of Niger Delta has executed fundamental and important humanitarian intervention projects across the region.

    Hon. Idem said: “Informed that part of the fund available for use by NDDC is money recovered on its behalf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and given to the Commission, to ease the implementation and its financial obligations.

    “The Federal government sent a special request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several Billions of Naira using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision”.

    Idem further disclosed, “the NDDC Budget estimates for 2021, 2022 and 2023 is before the House for legislative approval”.

    Uyime expressed worry that such request for intervention and humanitarian proposals by the federal government without requisite financial appropriation and approval by the House was illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act.

    Adopting the motion, the House
    mandated the committee on NDDC to investigate such request made by the federal government and report back to the house within two weeks for further legislative action.

  • NDDC’s partnership approach to unlocking the Niger Delta potential – By Pius Ughakpoteni

    NDDC’s partnership approach to unlocking the Niger Delta potential – By Pius Ughakpoteni

    By Pius Ughakpoteni

    The Niger Delta region is like a diamond in the rough. It has vast potential for wealth and prosperity due to its reserves of oil and gas and its largely youthful population. Due to its neglect, it has suffered. Like a person with abundant natural resources but an inadequate environment to foster them, the Niger Delta has excellent success potential. Still, it needs improvement with more opportunities and support.

    Likewise, the region is like a beautiful flower that is both a blessing and a curse simultaneously. Its beauty and bounty provide sustenance for the people, while its hidden thorns bring destruction and despair. The petals are delicate, and the color is stunning. However, if you look closer, you will see that the stem is weak and the roots are rotting.

    The statutory mandate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is to foster enduring growth in the Niger Delta area, like a gardener nurturing a garden for bountiful harvests. The immense oil and gas resources within the Niger Delta serve as this metaphorical garden, offering substantial income streams for the nation. As soon as it got its mandate, the NDDC worked on cultivating sustainable development in the region. NDDC is committed to nurturing and growing this vital area of our country’s economy like a skilled gardener.

    Over the years, the NDDC has faced numerous challenges in achieving its objectives. These challenges include inadequate funding and inadequate partnerships with relevant stakeholders. To overcome these challenges, the NDDC has adopted a partnership approach that prioritizes building strong and effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

    Through Management, the recently inaugurated Governing Board chose this option because it believes that with the proper care, attention, and resources, this diamond can be polished and transformed into a beautiful jewel that brings wealth and stability to the region. NDDC is committed to nurturing and growing this vital area of our country’s economy like a skilled gardener.

    Imagine a lush garden brimming with life and beauty. Like the diverse range of plants required for such a garden to thrive, various stakeholders are necessary for the Niger Delta to flourish. Think of the Niger Delta as a flourishing garden. Just like how a diverse range of plants is essential for its growth and prosperity, so too are different stakeholders crucial to the success of this region.

    NDDC is working towards sustainable development in the Niger Delta through its partnership approach. NDDC’s partnership approach to sustainable development in the Niger Delta is like building a house. With all stakeholders working together, the house will be complete. But with every stakeholder contributing their part, they can erect a strong and lasting house. Partnerships are like three-legged stools. Only when all three legs work together can the stool be stable. In the same way, only when all stakeholders work together can the Niger Delta achieve sustainable development.

    One of the key stakeholders the NDDC needs to work with is the private sector. The private sector has the expertise, resources, and technology to drive economic growth and development in the Niger Delta region. By partnering with the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and joint ventures, the NDDC can successfully leverage these resources to implement its programs and projects. The public and private sectors can collaborate through PPPs to finance, design, build, and operate infrastructure projects. Likewise, joint ventures allow two or more entities to partner on a specific project or business venture.

    Another stakeholder the NDDC needs to partner with is the government at all levels. The government is critical in promoting sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. By partnering with government agencies and departments, participating in government-led initiatives, and advocating for policies that promote sustainable development, the NDDC can access government resources, policies, and programs that support its development objectives. The NDDC is also keen on more vital collaboration with state and local governments to implement programs and projects that address their communities specific needs.

    Furthermore, civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are essential partners for the NDDC. These organizations deeply understand the needs and aspirations of people in the Niger Delta region. By collaborating on specific programs and projects, leveraging their expertise and resources, and involving them in planning and implementation, the NDDC can ensure that its programs and projects align with the needs and aspirations of people in the region.

    The NDDC also needs the cooperation of foreign entities such as multilateral agencies, foreign government agencies, donor agencies, and multinational corporations to promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. Multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) can provide technical assistance, funding, and policy advice to the NDDC. These agencies have extensive experience promoting sustainable development in developing countries and can give the NDDC valuable insights and expertise.

    Foreign government agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department for International Development (DFID) in the UK, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) can also partner with the NDDC to promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. These agencies can provide funding, technical assistance, and policy advice to the NDDC and collaborate with the NDDC on specific programs and projects.

    Donor agencies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation can also partner with the NDDC to promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. These agencies can provide funding, technical assistance, health, education, and agriculture expertise.

    Multinational corporations such as Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Total have a significant presence in the Niger Delta region. They can partner with the NDDC to promote sustainable development. These corporations can provide funding, technical assistance, and expertise in environmental management, community development, and corporate social responsibility. The NDDC can partner with these corporations in various ways. These include participating in joint ventures, leveraging their expertise and resources, and involving them in planning and implementing programs and projects.

    Partnerships will enable the NDDC to leverage diverse perspectives and resources to address the region’s complex challenges. With various forms of collaboration, the NDDC can overcome challenges by leveraging partners’ expertise and resources to implement programs and projects that promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

    The Niger Delta region has enormous potential for economic growth and development. By working together, we can unlock this region’s full potential and create lasting prosperity for all involved. The NDDC needs to work with many stakeholders to benefit all who call this beautiful garden home. Partnering with the private sector, government, CSOs, CBOs, and foreign entities is critical to the NDDC’s success in promoting the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. The NDDC can leverage its partners’ expertise and resources to implement its programs and projects for the region’s speedy growth.

    Therefore, the NDDC is beckoning all stakeholders to unite as partners in progress toward building an even brighter future for the Niger Delta. Join us as we work toward sustainable development in the region. By investing in the human potential of the Niger Delta’s youthful population, we can unlock even more excellent opportunities for growth and development. Let’s work together to cultivate an environment where everyone thrives! It is time to open the Niger Delta region’s potential and let it shine brightly.

     

    Pius Ughakpoteni is the Director, New Media at the Niger Delta Development Commission, Port Harcourt.

  • OPINION: Unraveling Delta PDP electoral heist-By Sunny Areh

    OPINION: Unraveling Delta PDP electoral heist-By Sunny Areh

    In Delta State, the regular refrain among the elites of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has called the shots in the state since the birth of the fourth republic is that Delta is PDP and PDP is Delta. It is a cliché they have used to maintain the party’s stranglehold in the state. The seeming love affair is not the product of a mutually beneficial relationship. It is not a reflection of PDP’s faith in the power of the electoral process. Rather, one party has denied the people the ability to determine who will run the state using all known unorthodox means of intimidation, brigandry, thuggery, etc. The other, the electorates, just lie hopelessly prostrate.

    For the purveyors of the cliché, they hold firmly to the fact that the leaders of the PDP have held the state by the jugular and would always “win” any and every election in the state. And they have. All the election cycles have always gone the way of the PDP. All the five election cycles since 1999.

    But they failed to reckon that the people cannot be fooled all the time. The renaissance came with the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly polls. On this day, Deltans felt they have had enough and wholeheartedly told the PDP that their time was up. Aided by the Obidient movement, they tossed PDP aside in a poll where Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s tale of having him inside Aso Rock as a spare tyre did not resonate with the people. The people knew the path to the desired change in their fortune does not lie with a vice president who can only be as busy as the President wants him to be in far-flung Abuja. The solution, they rightly reasoned, lies with draining the swamp that had drowned all sense of development and responsibility in leadership through PDP’s unbroken 24 years of running the state.

    February 25 was a threshold in the history of Delta State. Despite having Okowa on the ballot as PDP’s presidential running mate, Deltans went for Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

    The stunning result woke up the leviathan in the PDP and its enormous rigging machinery was promptly revved into top gear. The additional week added to the two-week interval between the presidential and National Assembly elections with the poll to elect leaders in the states provided the PDP in Delta State with the time to muster its array of resources to obviate the gains of the application of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the federal election. What happened subsequently on March 18, 2023 was an electoral heist of unprecedented proportions. Vote buying, voter suppression, violence and manipulation of election results characterized the exercise. Using state resources, a compromised state INEC and security operatives, PDP overnight “won” from it’s overwhelming rejection by the people barely three weeks earlier.

    Having witnessed how the heist was executed, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who is primed to give Deltans a breath of fresh air and the leadership of the state APC and convinced that it is incumbent on them to aid the people realize their quest for change decided to contest INEC’s declaration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as winner of the gubernatorial contest.

    For a party that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, albeit dubiously, PDP ought to be celebrating that it won the big one. Rather, the party is now enmeshed in a fracticidal war in a tragic search for answers on how it lost the presidential election. In effect, the party has learnt no lessons and will continue on its old disgraceful path of imagining that everything and everyone revolve around them. For the next four years if the fraudulent result is not reversed, the welfare of the people will not matter to the PDP. It will seek to evolve into a closeted and narrow group of buccaneers sipping the life out of the depleting resources for developing the state.

    The battle the APC in Delta State is engaged in is a critical one that will determine the medium and long term developmental trajectory of the state. Beyond party affiliation and loyalty, Deltans and all peoples that love the state and its amazing people should sign up to fight alongside the APC to bring back hope and faith in the capacity of the state to launch itself into a new beginning.

    The danger in not checking the brazen attack on the sovereignty of the people and their right to choose their leaders is an inevitable mortal loss of faith in the electoral system. As Peggy Noonan noted, “our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.”
    If after telling the politicians what they want repeatedly through voting and nothing happens, the people may stop participating in the electoral process outright. At that point, democratic governance may cease. The implications will be all too tragic to imagine.

    _*Sunny Areh is Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy President of the Senate and Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.*_