Niger Delta
EFCC Praises NDDC’S Performance … Unveils Projects In Bayelsa
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and financial Crimes Commission and related matters (EFCC), has said against its earlier premonition that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was associated with fraud and under performance, the present management of the commission led by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has proven to be prudent managers and in deployment of its finances to meet the developmental needs of the Niger Delta region.
Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, made this known in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, recently, during the twin inauguration ceremonies of the state-of-the-art multipurpose training centre and new state office of the NDDC.
He stated that during a visit of some officials of the commission to his office to invite him to the ceremonies, he declined obliging them, but that when the Commission’s Managing-Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ogbuku and other management staff of the interventionist agency paid him formal visit, he made up his mind to be part of the event.
“I never wanted to associate myself with anything concerning the NDDC. All we’ve been hearing about the Niger Delta Development before now was corruption, and so when they visited my office to inform and invite me to this ceremony, I initially declined coming.
“However, when the Commission’s MD/CEO and other top management team visited me, within just about 20 minutes I was convinced to be here. The NDDC has proven us wrong on the perception we initially had about their activities.
“Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and his team are doing very well. And I’m honoured and proud to be witness to prudential and accountable management and deployment of the resources and finances of the NDDC”, he said.
Speaking earlier at the new Bayelsa State office of the NDDC, Ogbuku reiterated the commitment of the Commission’s management team under his stewardship to transform the Niger Delta region through impactful and legacy projects and programmes in tandem with the “Renewed Hope” mantra of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He noted that prior to his ascension to office, there were only three befitting state offices of the commission, saying they were the Rivers State office in Port Harcourt, the inherited Imo State office from the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC), and one in Warri, Delta State.
He stated that upon assumption of office, the current management team of the commission, while executing transformational projects, also embarked on the construction and acquisition of three new state offices for the agency, noting that in the coming weeks, additional offices would be inaugurated in other states of the Niger Delta.
In his remarks, Governor of the State, Senator Douye Diri, lauded the commission for the projects, advising the commission to continue its synergy with states of the Niger Delta region for more impactful and rapid socio-economic development of the region.
Governor Diri, who also thanked President Tinubu for the award of the phase two of the Nembe-Brass Road, reiterated his resolve to opening up the state for investment and development.
“Bayelsa is for now the one and only homogeneous Ijaws State. Though there are Ijaws in other states of the Niger Delta, Bayelsa remains the home of all Ijaws, every citizen of this State is an Ijaw person. So wherever we find ourselves we should drive development to the state”, the Governor said.
The Tide reports that the newly acquired Bayelsa State NDDC office is located along the Isaac Boro Express Road in the heart of Yenagoa, the State capital, and named after former Governor of Rivers State, the late Chief Melford Okilo, while the multipurpose training centre is located at Otuokpoti Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of the State.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.
Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.
The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.
“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.
“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.
“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.
Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.
“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.
“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.
The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.
Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.
Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.
She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.
“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.
Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.
She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.
The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.
She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.
The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.
The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.
The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.
“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.
He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.
According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.
He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.
“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.
Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.
He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”
He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.
Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.
“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.
He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.
“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.
He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.
Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.
“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.
“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.
Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.
Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.
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