Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for consistent leadership at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying that stability at the helm is essential for meaningful progress and the successful completion of developmental projects.
Jonathan made the remarks during a plenary session marking the 25th anniversary of the NDDC, held at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
The former president expressed concern over the frequent leadership changes within the Commission, which he said had stifled effective project planning and delivery across the region.
“The constant changes in NDDC leadership have seriously hindered development,” he said. “As we heard in the keynote address, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala rightly pointed out that numerous projects were abandoned. This wasn’t necessarily due to lack of will from NDDC management but rather the instability that comes with frequent leadership turnover.”
He explained that planning and executing impactful, long-term initiatives becomes almost impossible when leadership tenures are too short. “In 25 years, the Commission has had 11 chief executives. That amounts to an average tenure of just two years and three months. How can you develop and deliver meaningful projects in that timeframe?” he asked.
Jonathan commended President Bola Tinubu for retaining Samuel Ogbuku as the Commission’s Managing Director, describing the decision as a positive signal of the President’s commitment to the region’s development.
“Ogbuku was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 and assumed office on January 4, 2023. When President Tinubu took over in May 2023, he could have replaced him immediately. But he did not, and that decision speaks volumes,” Jonathan said.
“If he weren’t interested in the region’s progress, he would have replaced him after just five months. In that case, no one would even remember Ogbuku’s name. But now we do—just as we remember the contributions of Oyema Ugochukwu and Timi Alaibe, who also had reasonable tenures.”
While acknowledging the strides made by the current leadership, Jonathan called on the NDDC to intensify its efforts in pursuing inclusive and performance-driven governance.
“We must not relent. The future of the Niger Delta is not solely dependent on oil and gas. Our region must also look toward agriculture, education, digital innovation, tourism, and renewable energy. Preparing for a post-oil economy is not optional. The transition must begin now,” he said.
Echoing Jonathan’s sentiments, the pioneer chairman of the NDDC, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, advised the Federal Government to allow the current Board and Management to serve out their full four-year tenure.
According to Ugochukwu, the Commission is now showing promising signs after a turbulent period characterised by short-lived caretaker committees and sole administratorships.
“A lot went wrong during those years. Irregularities were widespread. But the current leadership is restoring confidence and delivering results. I’ve said it many times—I fully commend their efforts,” he stated.
He added that constant changes in leadership have long undermined the Commission’s ability to implement sustained development programmes.
“If you compare us to the Asian Tigers, the biggest difference is the consistency in leadership. At NDDC, some executives are removed after just two years. That’s simply not enough time to steer long-term progress,” he said.
Both Jonathan and Ugochukwu called on policymakers to rethink their approach and prioritise stability if the NDDC is to fulfil its founding vision of transforming the Niger Delta.
