Opinion
N’Delta: NDDC’s Partnership With LGAs
Listening to the chairmen of local governments in the Niger Delta as they discuss the developmental challenges in their councils, one gets worried but in a way begins to understand why they have consistently failed to execute any meaningful projects in their domain. They were all lamenting what they called the huge burden of paying salaries to their staff, especially primary school teachers.
It was disturbing, sitting in the midst of local government chairmen, who are supposedly controlling huge budgetary allocations, but were bellyaching over the strangle-hold of re-current expenditure on the resources available to the local governments. It was an absurd situation as the issue of bloated salary bills was not the business of the day.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, had invited the chairmen as key stakeholders in the development of Nigeria’s oil-rich region to work out a partnership arrangement that would spread development to all corners of the region. The commission had set aside N1.35 billion to kick start its proposed collaboration with the local government councils across the Niger Delta region on joint funding and management of projects. Under the scheme, N150 million would be spent on five identified projects per state at 30 million per local government council.
However, while the NDDC would provide the N30 million counterpart funding, the local governments were expected to contribute N15 million to bring the total to N45 million. Raising the N15 million became an issue for many of the local government chairmen.
Dr. Omene Odafe, the chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Area in Delta State, lamented “that teachers’ salary alone takes over 50 per cent of the Federal Government allocation to the council and the salaries are deducted at source, such that at the end of the day, my council has virtually nothing left to pay for capital projects”. Going by his experience, he wondered whether many local governments would be able to benefit from the NDDC scheme.
Another council chairman, Prince Timothy Nsirim, of Obio-Akpor Local Government in Port Harcourt metropolis lent his weight to the assertions of his Delta State counterpart. He said that the saving grace for local governments in Rivers State was that the government of Governor Rotimi Amaechi has taken the burden of teachers’ salary off their shoulders. Before then, he said, the council could not execute projects as small as boreholes. He therefore advised other state governments in the Niger Delta to assist their local governments in paying teachers’ salaries so that they would have money to spare for projects.
The position of the local government chairmen would certainly not sit well with most people but that is the reality. Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State confirmed this at an International Conference of the World Mayors Summit held in Osogbo recently. He said that some governors deliberately impoverish local governments through diversion of council funds for other purposes. “Councils have become cash cows as council funds are always within reach. State governments commit council funds for all kinds of projects and at the end of the day, there is little or nothing left for them to embark on anything tangible in their domain”, he said
As one would expect, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha, the Managing Director of NDDC, was taken aback by what the chairmen put on the table. He said that it was worrisome that the local governments spend all their money to pay salaries and leave development projects unattended to. “This is very regrettable”. Perhaps, the collaboration the commission was offering would help them to at least contribute something for the wellbeing of their people.
Mr. Ugwoha informed the chairmen that NDDC as an interventionist agency does not own projects, stressing that ownership of every development project embarked upon by the commission automatically reverts to the people. Thus, he stressed the need for the involvement of benefiting communities all through the life span of the projects. He said the commission was prepared to assist the local governments to deliver on their mandates. He underlined the fact that NDDC gets only 7 per cent of the funds coming to the region.
This point, which has been echoed by other leaders of the Niger Delta in the past, is important to bear in mind. The plain truth is that a sizeable chunk of the funds made available for the development of the region come through the states and local governments.
For instance records show that between May 1999 and December 2006, the nine states making up the Niger Delta region received a total of N2.16 trillion, while local governments got a total of N671 billion. Over the same period, the NDDC received only N241.5 billion, representing eight percent of the total amount of N3.07 trillion from the federation Account. With this huge disparity in the distribution of funds, one would expect the two tiers of government to be in the forefront of development projects in the region. Sadly, that is clearly not the case, as the NDDC with its meager resources is more visible on the ground than some of the states and local governments.
Local governments in the Niger Delta cannot blame their poor performance in human and infrastructure development solely on the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries. In most local governments in the country, there are clear signs of poor financial management. Some LG chairmen treat the revenue accruing to their councils as their personal money. They appropriate whatever amount they like to themselves and share the remainder among the councilors. Worse still, some governors, as rightly stated by Gov Aregbosola, hold back LG funds for their personal aggrandizement. This is most unfortunate. LGs should be held accountable for the money they receive and be compelled to embark on projects that positively impact the lives of their people. That is the only way their existence will be meaningful.
What we have from the state and federal governments is more of abandoned projects. Recently, the Niger Delta Professionals for Development, a non-governmental organization, conducted a study with support from the European Union and the National Planning Commission. Its report, called the Citizen Report Card, shows that no fewer than 287 projects have been abandoned in 120 oil producing communities in six states in the Niger Delta region.
The nagging question is: where have all the monthly allocations gone? Where are the roads, schools, clinics and hospitals? Where are the libraries and the science laboratories? Where are the waterworks, the bridges and the industries? Where are the social services these governments are supposed to provide their people? These are some of the questions begging for answers.
Although some have argued that the current revenue allocation formula is unfair as it is not proportionate to the contribution of the region to the national purse, still the region continues to receive hefty amounts when compared to other regions. The truth is that some governments in the Niger Delta have not judiciously spent what they have been receiving since 1999. Looking at the projects on ground, it would appear that a huge chunk of the monthly receipts have ended up in private pockets or used to finance poorly executed projects deliberately designed to short change the citizenry.
While it may be easy to blame the failure on corruption, there are other critical elements that should also be looked at. For instance, there is evidence that planning and coordination of projects are inadequate. This is where partnership and collaboration come to play. Despite the myriad of financial problems confronting the local governments in the Niger delta, the chairmen should take the offer of partnership by the NDDC seriously, so that they can leave behind projects that people can see and cherish.
There is no doubt that developmental agencies in the region need to properly coordinate their activities. It is, therefore, paramount that the various tiers of government, private companies and donor agencies synergize to stop unnecessary waste and duplication of projects in the region. This was the problem that the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan was designed to solve. The core objective of the plan is to promote partnership and harmonize the activities of all development agencies in the oil-rich region. Keying into the plan is still the best option for the region’s rapid socio-economic transformation.
Agbu, a seasoned journalist, writes from Port Harcourt.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.