By Lucky Isibor
A former Chief Whip of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Rowland Owie (KSJI), has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in the Niger Delta, including communities, state governments in the region, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the organised private sector in the region to redouble their efforts to ensure the Niger Delta Development Commission fulfill its original mandate of being the catalyst for the development of the oil rich region.
Senator Owie stated this in a paper titled, “Unlocking Regional Prosperity: The Niger Delta Development Commission’s Role, Challenges and Future Potential”, at the General Assembly of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on last Thursday, 24 October.
Senator Owie who regretted that the NDDC has derailed from the vision behind its establishment by the Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, lauded the efforts and commitment of the National Assembly led then by the late Chuba Okadigbo and Ghali Na’Abba, who were the President of Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively at the time and the efforts of other members who had to over ride the Presidential veto to ensure a good deal for the Niger Delta region in the establishment act.
“The National Assembly expanded the funding scope for the NDDC to include not only onshore but also offshore oil revenues, while increasing the contribution from oil companies by an additional percentage point.When President Obasanjo vetoed these amendments, the National Assembly responded with an unprecedented show of legislative power. In July 2000, the National Assembly mobilized and successfully overturned the president’s veto with over a two-thirds majority in both chambers, marking the first time a presidential veto had been overridden in Nigeria’s history. The political back-and-forth that characterized the NDDC’s establishment underscored the high stakes involved in the commission’s potential to reshape the Niger Delta. Now, almost a quarter-century later, we must ask ourselves: Has the NDDC lived up to the promise of transforming the Niger Delta? Can it still fulfill its mandate to unlock the region’s prosperity, or has it become another missed opportunity in Nigeria’s long history of unrealized potential? Senator Owie who was the Senate Chief Whip then in the Senate and played a pivotal role in the establishment act queried.
While highlighting the challenges facing the NDDC to include corruption, institution weaknesses among others,
Senator Owie who was the Senate Chief Whip then of the Senate and played a pivotal role in the passsge of the NDDC Act, also enumerated steps to be taken to lead the commission out of its present state comatose and and arrest the revolving door of corruption plaguing the body.
“Despite its lofty goals, the NDDC has been unable to fully deliver on its promise. Today, as we take stock of its nearly 25-year existence, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: the Commission has been plagued by many of the same challenges it was created to solve. First among these challenges is institutional weakness. The NDDC has suffered from a lack of consistent leadership and strategic direction. Over the years, the Commission has been beset by frequent leadership changes, political interference, and a lack of continuity in its projects. The revolving door of NDDC executives has made it difficult to implement long-term development plans. More often than not, new administrations have come in and abandoned the projects of their predecessors, leaving the region littered with incomplete and abandoned infrastructure.
“Corruption, too, has been a persistent problem. The NDDC’s vast financial resources, rather than being channeled towards development, have often been siphoned off through dubious contracts, inflated project costs, and outright embezzlement. A report by the Auditor-General’s office revealed staggering financial irregularities, including billions of naira unaccounted for. This corruption has not only undermined the Commission’s credibility but has also deepened the frustration of the people of the Niger Delta, who have yet to see the promised dividends of development.The Commission’s inability to address these issues has been further compounded by the lack of coordination with other government agencies and state governments. Instead of a cohesive development strategy, we have seen a disjointed approach, with projects often duplicating or conflicting with those undertaken by state governments, leading to inefficiency and waste.”
On the way forward, Owie pointed out that, “Despite these challenges, I firmly believe that the NDDC still holds the potential to unlock regional prosperity for the Niger Delta—if it is properly reformed and administered.
“The commission can still be a catalyst for transformative development, but this will require a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and strategic vision.The first step in this process is to strengthen the institutional framework of the NDDC. This means appointing leaders with a genuine commitment to the region’s development, free from political patronage.
“The Commission’s leadership must be empowered to pursue long-term development goals, rather than being bogged down by the short-term interests of political actors.Equally important is the need for greater oversight and accountability. The NDDC’s financial operations must be subjected to regular audits, and those found guilty of corrupt practices should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Only by restoring trust in the NDDC’s operations can we ensure that its resources are used for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta.There is also a need for better coordination between the NDDC and other development agencies.
“The recently renamed Ministry of Regional Development, formerly the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, presents a unique opportunity to rethink how development is approached in the region. By viewing the Ministry not just as a vehicle for distributing oil revenues but as a platform for regional renewal, we can begin to craft a more holistic and integrated development strategy. President Bola Tinubu’s decision to rename the ministry, though controversial, may serve as a turning point in reorienting policy makers’ mentalities towards long-term, sustainable development. We must seize this moment to push for a new vision of regional prosperity—one that is rooted in the empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta and the sustainable use of the region’s natural resources”.