Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over the inability of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete key infrastructure and development projects across the Niger Delta due to frequent changes in leadership.
Speaking at the grand finale of the NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Jonathan lamented that the agency’s revolving-door leadership structure was a significant barrier to meaningful progress.
“But something critical that I need to mention; Onyema Ugochukwu, the pioneer chairman, noted it — the frequent changes of the leadership of the NDDC has been a problem for the development,” the former president said.
Abandoned Projects in the Niger Delta
Jonathan said many abandoned NDDC projects were not due to negligence but stemmed from a lack of long-term planning, a consequence of short leadership tenures. He noted that in 25 years, the commission had 11 chief executives, with an average tenure of two years and three months — insufficient time to initiate and complete meaningful, large-scale projects.
“When you cannot plan, when there’s no time to plan, agencies that go to develop now resort to contractor-driven projects, not projects based on planning.”
“From what the chairman said, over these 25 years, we have had 11 CEOs of the NDDC… How can you finish projects that are significant to the region?”
Jonathan Commends Tinubu for Retaining Ogbuku
Jonathan praised President Bola Tinubu for retaining Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director of the NDDC, stating that the decision signals the President’s genuine interest in Niger Delta development.
“And we are here celebrating this because he (Ogbuku) has stayed a little more than two years… If Tinubu was not interested in developing this region, he would have removed him.”
He added that the legacies of former NDDC leaders like Oyema Ugochukwu and Timi Alaibe remain visible because they had stable tenures that allowed for strategic planning and execution.
Beyond Oil: A New Vision for the Niger Delta
The former Bayelsa State governor urged the NDDC to embrace a performance-driven and inclusive governance model. He stressed the need for the region to prepare for a post-oil future, emphasizing areas like agriculture, education, renewable energy, tourism, and digital innovation as key to sustainable development.
“We must continually emphasise that the future of the Niger Delta does not rest solely on oil and gas… True sustainability requires preparing our region for a post-oil economy, the transition that must begin now.”
