By Julius Timiebi 

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established as an intervention agency to address the developmental challenges in the oil-rich Niger Delta. However, with the exception of only two individuals, most Managing Directors and Chairmen have unfortunately used the Commission’s resources as a springboard for their overreaching gubernatorial ambitions. From Timi Alaibe to Emmanuel Agwuarado, the late P.Z. Aginagha, and Nsima Ekere (as Managing Directors), to Ugochukwu Onyema, Ambassador Edem, and Tarila Tebepah (as Chairmen), this trend has become a persistent pattern.

Senator Godswill Akpabio further escalated this by contesting the 2023 presidential primary election while the NDDC was under the oversight of the now-defunct Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which he headed. One cannot forget a number of melancholic dramas that ensued when the National Assembly was performing its oversight function regarding the agency a few years ago. The infamous “fainting” spell and the ‘off your mic” episode. Those things exposed the rot in the agency.

In their attempts to bypass due process, successive Chief Executive Officers introduced numerous phony and unsustainable projects under the guise of emergency works. From water hyacinth clearance to desilting and canalization, they refined their tactics to siphon resources through proxies and cronies, all in a bid to fund political aspirations. These actions have significantly derailed the noble ideals that led former President Olusegun Obasanjo to establish the NDDC. The rot has worsened over time. Today, the Commission has been reduced to executing projects like solar street lights-many of which are already falling apart. To Alaibe’s credit, his tenure saw the initiation of sustainable legacy projects such as shoreline protection, road construction, university hostels, water supply, and electrification-all of which still stand as rare examples of impactful intervention.

Under the current leadership, however, the Commission’s legacy is largely limited to solar lights. A more alarming trend is the alleged sponsorship of groups aimed at undermining political structures in the Managing Director’s home state, projecting the NDDC as though it were a parallel government. This has become a troubling hallmark of the current management team.

Dr. Sammy Ogbuku has, in every respect, demonstrated his ambition to contest the upcoming governorship election in his home state of Bayelsa-following in the footsteps of many of his predecessors at the NDDC. In pursuit of this political goal, he has engaged in clandestine activities many see as promoting distrust and destabilization in the state.

A notable example is his reported sponsorship of selected youth groups who have appeared on various television platforms to promote the much-hyped solar street lighting projects across parts of Bayelsa. These installations, many of which are already in disrepair, have been paraded as major achievements. It was particularly farcical when one of his associates appeared on Arise TV and boldly claimed that the Niger Delta now resembles Las Vegas-thanks to these solar lights.

But what benefit is there for a community to be bathed in artificial light at night, only to return to homes still lit by lanterns? This superficial development does little to improve the living standards or economic prospects of the people. It is disheartening to note that many of these projects are intentionally overpriced, driven by a corrupt motive of personal gain.

In contrast, a recent encounter with the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency offered a breath of fresh air. This young, vibrant, and patriotic leader is spearheading a renewable energy revolution, creating sustainable off-grid power solutions that are already transforming rural communities. His approach highlights the stark difference between substance and showmanship. It’s clear: Abba’s strategy is not only forward-thinking but genuinely impactful.