NDDC MD Position Remains Occupied – Minister
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has dismissed calls for the removal of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), asserting that the position is not vacant.
Momoh made this clarification during the inauguration of the boards for the South East Development Commission and North West Development Commission. He emphasized that the current NDDC board was appointed according to legal provisions and has a four-year tenure, which is still in effect.
The minister addressed concerns raised by various groups, particularly from the South-South and Niger Delta regions, who have been advocating for the dissolution of the NDDC board. He questioned the rationale behind such demands, pointing out that the board was legally constituted and will remain in place unless directed otherwise by President Bola Tinubu.
“I have received several complaints and protests from different parts of the country, particularly the South-South and Niger Delta regions, asking for the board of the NDDC to be dissolved. I ask, why must the board go? They were appointed based on the Act, which specifies a four-year tenure. If the President chooses, he can reappoint them at the end of their term,” Momoh said.
He further explained that under the NDDC Act, the MD is entitled to serve their full term, and only the President has the authority to make changes to the leadership.
Momoh also noted that President Tinubu had renewed the appointment of the current MD for another four-year term on October 25, 2023.
“For those clamouring for a replacement, they should take their concerns to Mr. President, who is the only person with the authority to make that decision. As of now, the President has not given any directive for a change,” he added.
Drawing a comparison with the North East Development Commission, Momoh pointed out that the leadership there had similarly been reappointed, urging critics to avoid spreading confusion.
He appealed to the people of the Niger Delta to support the NDDC’s ongoing initiatives for regional development. “Since this management team came in, they have been doing a lot. Let us give peace a chance and allow them to continue their work,” he said.
The NDDC, established to promote infrastructural and economic development in the Niger Delta, has often been at the center of political debates and leadership controversies. However, Momoh’s statement reaffirms that the commission’s leadership remains stable under the current administration.
