Tag: NDDC

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that the new leadership in the commission will adopt a common vision for the best interest of the Niger Delta region.

Speaking at a meeting with the new Executive Management and staff of the Commission at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku promised that members of the board would work in one accord to impact positively on the lives of the people of Nigeria’s oil-rich region. 

He said: “I am glad that we now have a compatible team that is poised to deliver the best services to the people of the Niger Delta region. I feel more relaxed now that we are set to go on full steam. We have to work hands in glove to change the face and fortunes of our region.”

“We will not allow people to come between us to sow seeds of discord. It is in the interest of the staff and all stakeholders that the management team is united. I am confident that the tenure of this Board will be peaceful and productive.”

 He observed that one of the major challenges the commission faced in the past was the frequent changes in its board and management.

 He called on members of staff to play a positive role to ensure that there was harmony among the board members and the management.

Ogbuku in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, charged employees to always be professional in the discharge of their duties, advising that they should not dabble into politics or spread negative stories about the commission for selfish or ethnic interests.

He assured them that the executive management would continue to pay attention to staff welfare to create a conducive atmosphere for optimal performance and efficient service delivery.

Ogbuku appealed to members of staff not to mislead the new executive directors by playing the ethnic card or swaying to primordial sentiments, cautioning that the management should be allowed to work for the benefit of the entire Niger Delta region.

He said that the new board comprised people grounded in knowledge and varied experiences, adding that the board members, being well endowed in their various disciplines, would surely deliver the needed benefits for the growth of the Niger Delta region.

In his remarks, the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, re-echoed the views of the Managing Director on the need to prioritise staff welfare, saying: “All we ask from the staff is cooperation and diligence to their duties.”

In his short remarks, the Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, stated that the new Board was poised to succeed.

Read Also: We’re confident in your capacity to deliver, IYC tells Ogbuku

 He said: “Where others failed, this team will not fail. Don’t come to gossip to me. Please, allow me to make my own friends. I don’t want to inherit anyone’s enemies because my own philosophy is live and let live.”

In his remarks, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, reiterated the need for organizational harmony in the activities of NDDC as an interventionist agency.

He said: “We will work as one united family to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.”

Speaking on behalf of the staff, the Chairman of NDDC Staff Union, Anthony Gbendo, applauded the Managing Director for facilitating the approval of the staff conditions of service, which he said was delayed for many years.

He pledged the support and loyalty of his members to the new Board to ensure that they succeeded in their assignment.

The representative of Cross River State on the recently inaugurated Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Orok Otu Duke, expressed his concerns about what he perceives as the unfair treatment and underrepresentation of his home state in the execution of NDDC projects.

He argued that for the past 23 years since the establishment of the commission, Cross River state has been short-changed, and the NDDC ACT has been wrongly applied.

During his first meeting with NDDC staff in Calabar, Duke, who was reappointed by President Bola Tinubu, emphasized the need for their understanding and support to ensure that Cross River State receives its rightful share.

He noted that the Act establishing the NDDC did not segregate Cross River State in the framework of project execution as practised over the years by those that have been opportune to manage the commission.

The NDDC ACT makes provision for equality of states and it did not contemplate the practice of quota in the allocation of projects and funding, Duke argued.

He noted for instance that the current budgetary allocation under the NDDC framework for the nine catchment states is N900billion but only N15 billion is allocated for Cross River State. Out of the N15billion, Cross River State is allowed to have projects of only N7billion worth. The remaining N8 billion is voted for debt servicing.

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Duke, expressed displeasure with the treatment meted out to Cross River state in the sharing formula of projects over the years past but said his advocacy is not to ask for anything in arrears but to demand for better treatment going forward.

He stated: “The federal government did not emphasize segregation or quantum of oil production in a state as a yardstick for sharing formula for projects or budgetary allocation to each of the nine oil producing states but the sharing formula provided by the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Commission.”

He said the element of evil running through the system has kept the state subjugated for twenty-three years.

He said: “Every month 25% of our Federal Allocation, 50% of Ecological Fund, and 10% of IOC are deducted and given to NDDC, and yet the funds routed through the Commission do not get to us.

“I have resumed today and I’m ready to stand and fight by you and work with you for the sake of equality and justice for our state. I have the full support of my State Governor to defend and demand for our rights.”

He opined that the confusion in the sharing formula in NDDC stems from the 1992 Decree 23 by General Ibrahim Babangida that created, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission, and OMPADEC which emphasized the development of oil-producing areas based on the amount of oil production from such areas.

“But in 2000 that Decree was excised with the creation of NDDC where equal distribution of projects was entrenched as an interventionist agency for all the nine oil producing states, therefore the paltry budgetary allocation to Cross River State would no longer be accepted.

He gave another instance, saying in 2021, 240 scholarships were awarded by the Commission with Cross River State given just three slots. The rest of the 237 slots were shared among the 8 other states of the commission.”

The NDDC Representative also warned staff of the commission in the state to stop the practice of playing down projects executed by the Commission in the state by refusing to label and identify the projects of NDDC in the state.

“Every project executed by NDDC, be it a culvert or road must be identified by NDDC insignia. No one should boost his political image using NDDC projects”

He said during his brief tenure when he was appointed by President Mohammadu Buhari, he refused to report to the office because three years after ENDSARs destroyed the Commission office in Calabar, the place was not rehabilitated therefore it was a subtle protest by him to draw attention of NDDC management’s attention to the poor state of the office.

“Up till this moment, the furniture is not in place but the contract was awarded and the contractor has promised to furnish the office from this week.”

Duke was received by the outgone Director of Projects in the state, Mr. Ene Okpo Ene-Ita who retired on the same day and performed his last assignment as staff on NDDC by handing over to a new Director of Projects in the state office Mr. Kokoette Obot on acting capacity.

• Commission interviews 1,050 for foreign scholarships

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said it had increased the allowance paid to students from $30,000 to $40,000.

The commission also said it had begun oral interviews for over 1,050 candidates for its foreign post-graduate scholarship programme.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, announced this at the venue of the interview in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The interview, which spanned 11 days, was designed for successful candidates in a computer-based test (CBT) written by 5,000 applicants earlier this month.

Responding to questions on why the NDDC had not increased the number of scholarship beneficiaries, Ogbuku explained that funding had been a challenge.

He said: “We increased the allowance for the studies from $30,000.00 to $40,000.00 and this affected our finances, making it necessary to create a balance.

“However, from next year, we hope to reduce the number of foreign scholarships because of the high foreign exchange rate. But we will introduce scholarships for undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. This will enable us to accommodate more persons in the scholarship programme.”

Read Also: NDDC chairman harps on collaboration, renewed hope agenda

The managing director, who was accompanied by the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antai; and the Executive Director Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, said the guiding principles for the interview were equity, fairness and transparency.

In a statement by the NDCC Director of Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, he said: “Everything is going to be done based on merit. That is what we want and the reason we came to monitor the process is to show our support to what is going on and let people know that we did not set up a process without coming to check what was happening. We believe that the best will be selected amongst the successful candidates.

“We are sending the scholars out to represent our country. They are going to be our worthy ambassadors. The interview panel was randomly selected to ensure fairness because the 200 scholars to be selected will be our ambassadors.”

The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, has warned the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to either perform or get booted out of the system.

He also challenged the newly inaugurated board on the need to change the narratives around the commission.

The minister gave the charge on Thursday, November 16, while inaugurating the Chiedu Ebie-led NDDC Board in Abuja.

He explained that the current administration has a template to measure performance and any board that fails to measure up will be shown the way out.

He said: “And it is also necessary for you to know that this administration is quite different from others because they are going to be a lot of supervision and monitoring in order for us to deliver.

“Mr. President as you are aware, two weeks ago, I, as a minister and the Permanent Secretary signed a performance bond, with Mr. President and the performance bond that we signed with Mr. President, has deliverables that are associated with the eight presidential priorities.

“And some of these deliverables have been assigned to various agencies under our supervision of which NDDC is one.

“And to that essence, you are expected to work towards delivering on those areas. And in order to do that as the Supervisory ministry, we are also there to assist you and guide you.”

He also said the members of the board would be made to sign performance bonds just like the ministers.

This, he however said will be done during a proposed retreat for NDDC board members and management team. 

” So it’s very, very important because the President is not joking with this, and from time to time, we are expected to present our reports and there is also a committee that will be set up by Mr. President to monitor the performance of each ministry and the agencies.

“So I think I want this one to be behind your mind so that as you start your work, you know exactly what is expected from you.”

On the need to change the negative perspective about the Commission, Momoh said: “We are all aware that over time, there have been a lot of complaints about NDDC

“I want to also use this opportunity to appeal that this time around, we need to change the narratives.

“We cannot continue to do the same thing in the same way and we expect that we are going to achieve a different result.

“Collectively as we are here, I think apart from the three members representing other zones, well of course, I regard them as friends of the Niger Delta, every one of you is from the Niger Delta zone,

“You definitely should be committed to how that zone can be transformed.

“All those negative statements around the commission let us as much as possible, this time to say well under the presidency of Mr. President, Senator Bola Tinubu and my leadership in the ministry and yourself operating at that level, that all those negative statements about NDDC are changed.

“And what am I saying, there are quite a number of abandoned projects in NDDC, there are quite a number of indebtedness in NDDC.

He further posited that members of the board should take it as a responsibility to develop the region.

The minister said: “Because you are all from Niger Delta, and the progress of that area is supposed to be your utmost concern.”

Momoh also challenged the board on the need to complete abandoned projects scattered across the nine states that make up the commission.

He said: “So, I believe by the time you resume work, first of all, check around and see such projects and get them completed.”

He also urged the board to look inward, saying, “By the time you start project execution, let us focus on those projects that will give us a name. There are quite a number of them which of course, started long ago.”

He also appealed to the new management to offset the debt of the commission to its contractors, especially the local contractors with a “very small amount, not more than N30 million”.

He explained that by so doing the economic activities of the region would be boosted

He also urged the board to work together as a team.

This, he said is necessary if they want to record meaningful achievements.

He also reminded them of the consequences of conflict in the board, saying it could lead to the dissolution or sack of the entire board by the president.

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“So that’s why we say you need to be advised from the beginning on the need to work in harmony with both members of the board and management, you need to work in harmony and make sure that you deliver and let it be recorded in your name that in your time NDDC was transformed,” he stressed.

The minister also urged the board to work as a team and avoid conflict.

He said: “Let me also advise you, you are going to work as a team. Needless to tell you that you need to work in harmony. You must work in harmony. Every person should understand his/her role.

 “We have a management board and members of the board. By the time you know your roles. I don’t think there will be a problem. It’s only when you don’t engage yourself as one that is when you begin to have conflicts and when there is conflict you know what that can result to.”

The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has hailed the electoral process as peaceful.

Ogbuku who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote at unit 001 Derime polling unit Ayakoro in ward 3 of Ogbia Local government area of Bayelsa State after the initial glitches commended the independent National electoral Commission for a job well done.

He also noted further that information from communities around Ayama clan showed that the process is going on peacefully and warned trouble makers to stay clear of the process.

Read Also: NDDC to oil firms: protect Niger Delta from gas flaring, pollution

The NDDC helmsman further assured the people of Niger Delta to use his good offices to extend the dividend of democracy to the Niger Delta States, stressing that the renewed hope of Tinubu administration would touch the people of Niger Delta.

Highlights of the NDDC helmsman’s visit to his community was inspection of ongoing projects and other developmental projects.

It could be reported that, Derime polling unit 001 has total 0f 255 registered voters.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged oil firms to protect communities from gas flaring and pollution.

The commission promised to work with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other developmental partners to increase investments in renewable energy to reduce the impact of climate change.

Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, spoke when a delegation from TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited visited him at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He said: “Climate change is real and the oil companies should help by reducing gas flaring and other forms of pollution. 

“We need to protect our communities by investing more in clean energy sources. 

“On our part, we are focusing more on solar energy to help in combating climate change.”

Ogbuku said NDDC had gone into a mutually beneficial relationship with the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (OPTS) by paying more attention to infrastructural development in their areas of operations.

He underlined the need for sustainable collaborations that would benefit the people of the Niger Delta region, citing the partnership between the NDDC and the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) in building the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State as an example of a successful collaboration.

Ogbuku said that NDDC would like to replicate that model with TotalEnergies, Chevron and other major oil companies, adding that more development would be achieved through partnerships.

The NDDC boss said the commission was also focusing on capacity building of the youths through a new scheme known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement (HOPE). 

He said: “The project is designed for sustainability because it is data-driven. 

“The project would create a database for youths, women, and entrepreneurs to enable us to see clearly where their interest lies.”

Ogbuku said the commission was rebranding and doing things differently, hence its engagement of KPMG, a multinational business management consultancy firm, to provide advisory services on global best practices in corporate governance and Standard Operating Principles (SOPs).

Read Also: Niger Delta ethnic nationalities hail Tinubu for repositioning NDDC

Executive Director, Joint Venture Assets, TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited, Mr. Obi Imemba, commended the NDDC for its role in the development of the Niger Delta region. 

He said: “We at Total Energies believe so much in partnerships which is in agreement with one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. 

“What you are doing in NDDC is ticking the boxes around sustainable development goals, so we believe that we have a lot in common.

“Our goal is to provide the energy that the world needs. We started in oil and gas, and now we are providing energies in the form of solar, hydrogen, green electricity and others.  

“We are here in Nigeria for the long haul, even though some IOCs are exiting Nigeria, that is not in our plan.

“Our focus henceforth is on sustainability and our sustainability programme is anchored on four pillars, which are climate and sustainable energy, care for the environment, creating shared values for communities and people’s wellbeing.”

Imemba stressed the need to protect the environment from activities leading to further pollution and urged private and government organisations to diversify their means of producing energy.

He said: “We are providing renewable energy in TotalEnergies and we are encouraging people to diversify their energy means, moving from the conventional fossil to renewable energy. 

“We should bring hydrocarbons that have less carbon emissions.”