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NDDC’s Revival: Corporate Hqr As Metaphor
If things work as planned, the Eastern Bye-Pass in Port Harcourt with the envisaged completion of construction work on the long abandoned corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which is located along the road will host the commission’s operational base. Following a marching order handed down to the new management by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in respect of the shame of the abandonment of the13 storey-edifice, on which work was abandoned almost two decades ago, all actors in the exercise are recommitting themselves to see to its actualisation. The Minister had in a meeting with the management in his office in Abuja lamented over the shameful state of the structure, which successive managements had abandoned and resorted to renting the present corporate headquarters
In response to his charge, the relevant actors have all made public statements in respect of completing all work on the project within a new schedule. For instance, the Acting Managing Director even offered to actually move her office to the uncompleted building and supervise its completion directly, as a sign of total commitment to the pledge. Likewise, the various contractors on the project have also made public pledges on their commitment to follow through with the completion of the project on schedule. All that seems left now is to see them convert their pledges to articles of faith through delivering of the project on schedule – ostensibly next year 2020.
However, with the NDDC, many persons who had dealings with the interventionist agency readily aver that there could always be a difference between its schedule on delivery of projects and the actualisation of same. Its officials blame this situation on the haphazard manner in which its finances are mustered including the ever worrisome instances of under remittance of monies due it by designated contributors to its purse. These debtors are in the main the Federal Government as well as oil and gas companies, who are statute bound to contribute to the commission’s purse. But routinely fail to do so. In that vein, therefore, the pledges over the completion of the NDDC corporate headquarters may be determined more by the actual availability of funds – a situation that throws the liability ball back to the Minister, Godswill Akpabio. It is for good measure that he also acknowledged the debts of over N2 trillion owed the commission during his meeting with them.
However, beyond the issue of finance, the more profound feature of NDDC operations which many believe is the primary causative factor determining its chronic infidelity with project delivery is the complement of its in-house management expedients. Historically, even if the commission may not have received its full tranche of funds at any particular time, what it did with the delivered portion leaves much to be desired. As far as the public image of the commission is concerned, it is yet to earn a pass mark, as it hardly registers the completion of critical infrastructure within budget and time frame, across its intervention area, the Niger Delta region. This makes it more like a sink hole in urgent need for redemption. If the situation was otherwise, it could not have unwisely abandoned its 80% completed corporate headquarters for close to two decades Talk of the NDDC being so altruistic to love others more than itself!
With the marching order from Akpabio, the NDDC needs to predispose itself for a revival of its operational circumstances, pursuant to charting a fresh agenda for executing its statutory mandate. In this context, it may be superfluous to state that its handling of the completion of the corporate headquarters will serve as a metaphor that captures a new corporate, service delivery ethic. While it is not suggested that the commission should deploy all available resources to complete the edifice, the urgency of its completion is defined by several factors.
Firstly, according to the contractors, virtually all the technical accessories for its completion such as lifts and other mechanical equipment, electrical and plumbing fittings are in place, with their final installation only awaiting the ratification of outstanding contractual terms. Secondly, the Minister’s query over the renting of the present office for the whole 19 years of the commission’s existence when it had such an edifice awaiting the executive will to complete it needs to be heeded. It will be interesting if the NDDC can celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its creation which is due next year, in its new corporate headquarters building.
More significant for the circumstances of corporate social responsibility, it will be to the eternal credit of the NDDC to gear its eventual relocation to its then completed corporate headquarters along the Eastern Bye Pass to serve as a catalyst for the takeover of the entire area including the very important adjoining Marine Base. As one of the young engineering students who were privileged to participate in the construction by the Rivers State Ministry of Works of the Eastern Bye Pass during a vacation job stint in the 1970’s, the road has always attracted deep nostalgia for this author. The prospects of the magnificent edifice, now standing as the uncompleted corporate headquarters of the NDDC, becoming completed and fully operational will not only serve to accentuate the turn-around mindset of the commission’s leadership. It will be a personal dream, fulfilled for someone.
Monima Daminabo
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”
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