By Ifeatu Agbu

The rapid development of the Niger Delta region, which is the core mandate of the Niger  Delta Development Commkisison, NDDC, got an impetus when the current Management, led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku, mounted the saddle at the Commission’s headquarters on January 5, 2023.

From day one, Ogbuku and his team were confronted with the daunting challenges of development in the Niger Delta region. However, the challenges spurred them to begin to look for new ways of achieving results. That inexorably led to the decision by the Commission to begin to do things differently.

In charting a new course, the Commission had to use new strategies, which emphasized transparency and accountability.

The new trajectory takes into account the vision of the NDDC, which is to create an enabling environment for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. The Management is also guided by the Commission’s mission, which is: “to facilitate the sustainable, even and rapid development of the Niger Delta, into a region that is socially stable, politically peaceful, economically prosperous and ecologically regenerative.”

The paradigm shifts at the NDDC did not come by chance. It came from good leadership. According to General Collin Powell, former Chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff [1989-93] and the first African American to be appointed Secretary of State, you have to appoint the right calibre of people to deliver good results.

For him, “the organisation doesn’t really accomplish anything. Plans don’t accomplish anything either. Theories of management don’t matter. Endeavours succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.”

The Executive Management team in NDDC today appears to be hitting the right notes. This started with the solid foundation laid during a four-day Board and Management Retreat at the Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. This set the tone for a new and re-invigorated journey.

Indeed, the management signaled that it would not be business as usual as it would enthrone transparency in its operations and reverse the resource-curse syndrome in the Niger Delta region.
At the end of the retreat, participants resolved that the NDDC should prioritize key sectors that would have huge impact on the standard of living of the people of the Niger Delta, namely: infrastructure, education, health and agriculture; the NDDC should pay particular attention to the security of lives and property and the protection of the poor and weak in the society; the NDDC should improve its youths and women empowerment programmes; the NDDC should consider implementing legacy projects that have the potential to benefit the people of the region, reduce poverty and improve the conditions of living of the people.
The stakeholders resolved to intensify efforts towards fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region. Along this line, they agreed to revisit and review the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, which expired in 2020, to provide sustainable focus for the region.
They further resolved: “That the NDDC in its determination to take the region to greater heights shall engage in Public Private partnership arrangements with State Governments, International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as International Donor Agencies with a view to executing mega projects for the region.”

To truly make a difference, the management adopted new methods to effectively drive sustainable development in the region. Thus, it decided to espouse the Public Private Partnership, PPP, model to provide alternative sources of funding for key development projects and programmes.

Consequently, a Management Committee on Public Private Partnership was constituted by the NDDC on January 18, 2023. The Commission observed that the only outstanding partnership it has entered into since inception was with respect to the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe Road. The 27-kilometre road, which connects 14 different communities of Bayelsa State, was constructed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

That multi-billion flagship project illustrates the kind of challenges confronting the Niger Delta. It cuts through the mangrove swamps with many bridges and 99 culverts.

To further explore the possibilities presented by a PPP model, the Commission organised a PPP summit in Lagos on April 25. At the Summit, with the theme: “Rewind to Rebirth,” the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with a United States-based firm, Atlanta Global Resources Inc., AGRI to build a railway network that will connect the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC management had previously engaged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Limited to propose a partnership for speedy development of the Niger Delta.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, agreed to co-fund some of NDDC’s projects tailored towards infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region. The partnership overture to the NNPC came on the heels of similar moves to get the hands of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.

Again, the Commission engaged the members of the Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry during their recent meeting in Lagos. According to Ogbuku, the management “recognizes that the OPTS, which embodies the IOCs, is a critical stakeholder of the NDDC, that is second only to the people of the region.”

Obviously, the NDDC alone cannot handle the task of developing the Niger Delta region. The Commission needs the support of all stakeholders to achieve the goal of developing the region. NDDC funds alone cannot fully develop the region. It needs the partnership of IOCs to achieve this.

Apparently, this prompted the management to step up the collaboration with various stakeholders, including the state governments to end the era of duplication of projects and promote harmony.

The NDDC boss noted that it was important to enhance collaboration between state governors, the NDDC, and other critical stakeholders to drive development through the monitoring and execution of regional projects.

Interestingly, steps are already being taken to strengthen the relationship between the Commission and the State Governments of the Niger Delta, to make them partners and not competitors.

These engagements have improved the visibility and broadened the scope of NDDC’s partnerships. In recognition of this fact, Ogbuku said that “stakeholders’ engagements were critical to the commission’s effectiveness. “We have, therefore, met with the civil society groups, traditional rulers and community leaders.

The traditional institution, being a highly revered group, was given due attention. Thus, the management visited the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, in his palace in Warri, Delta State and the Amanyanabo of Okochiri, King Ateke Michael Tom in his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area

To consolidate on the engagements, the management inaugurated a 2024 Budget Committee to interface with stakeholders in the budget process. The committee was charged with identifying the vision of the NDDC as an interventionist agency in order to prioritise the allocation of available resources.

Ogbuku assured that the Commission would produce a budget that would capture the present realities in the region, insisting that the document must have a clear vision. “This way, in implementing the it, there will be proper guidelines and it will not be distorted when it gets to the National Assembly. To achieve this, the NDDC must have a stakeholder’s conference to reach an agreement,” he said.

The NDDC boss maintained that the 2024 NDDC budget will be an inclusive budget that largely accommodates the interests of stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “Stakeholders will have an opportunity to tell the NDDC the kind of projects they want in their areas of operations, so that they can be included in the budget. That is the plan for the NDDC budget for 2024. Henceforth, NDDC will capture every stakeholder in its budget; state governments, the IOCs, traditional institutions, everybody should be included in it. It will be an all-inclusive budget of the people of the Niger Delta.”

However, before coming up with the all-inclusive 2024 budget, the Commission had to deal with what the Managing Director described as a dysfunctional situation. “We met a situation where the Commission had no approved budget for 2021 and 2022.” Thankfully, the budgets for the two years, as well as that of 2023 have now been passed by the National Assembly.

With the budget in place, more projects and programmes will begin to roll out. In the light of this, the new concept developed by the Commission to work with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce in the training of youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region, has every reason to succeed.

The plan, according to the NDDC boss, was to collaborate with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “For the new scheme to be successful, it will revolve around a Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce that will strengthen young entrepreneurs in the region. The goal is to stop a situation where youths will be at home and be receiving stipends. Hence, the Commission is changing its Youth Volunteer programme to Youth Internship Programme where youths will be attached to organisations for one year to learn skills.”

In the area of education, the NDDC under Ogbuku interacted with Vice Chancellors of four universities in the Niger Delta region and the dominant issue on the table was how to begin partnerships that will encourage research to help in finding solutions to some of the problems bedevilling the society.

Ogbuku said that partnering with universities in academic research will make it possible to produce life-saving vaccines, as well as finding lasting solutions for medical and social problems.

The Management also held a meeting with contractors working for the Commission and called for cooperation from them to resolve issues around the burgeoning debt profile of the Commission.

To find a solution, the NDDC leadership says it is willing to accept solutions that will lead to the reduction of the Commission’s debt profile.

As part of the measures taken to address the challenges posed by a huge debt profile, the Commission started reviewing all disilting contracts before payments were made.

Today, the NDDC has sufficiently watered the grounds for public, private partnerships to flourish alongside contributions from stakeholders to bring about economic prosperity, as well as ensure social and political stability in the Niger Delta region.

According to Ogbuku, the NDDC is assuming its rightful position as a vehicle to drive the socio-economic development of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

In a digital economy, there is potential to enhance productivity, increase income and improve social well-being by creating job opportunities in new markets, as well as boosting employment in some existing occupations. Key benefits of the digital economy include the expansion of business opportunities, the creation of new employment opportunities, the enhancement of public service, etc.

Two days ago, the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) through the State Motor Registry held a meeting with stakeholders in the Transport Sector comprising the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, Federal Road Safety Corps, Representatives of DSS, State Police Command, Civil Defense, etc. The essence of the meeting was to introduce to the Stakeholders the new Vehicle Card License System being proposed by the Anambra State Government. The meeting took place at the Training Hall of the Revenue House, Awka.

The new Vehicle Card License system will replace the former paper documents and will help the State government and the vehicle owners checkmate the activities of illegal revenue operators who issue fake vehicle documents to unsuspecting motor vehicle owners. The new Vehicle Card License will be accompanied by a sticker.

The card has unique security features such as a QR code embedded in it that brings out the particulars and information about the vehicle and the owner when scanned. The QR code will enable the easy authentication of the card as all particulars of the vehicle are contained in this unique card.

The card which is green and white is unique to Anambra State.

Back view of the proposed vehicle card license with a QR code embedded on it

Effective take-off of the new Vehicle Card License system in Anambra State is Monday, May 22, 2023.

In the case of loss, the card can be replaced if the owner reported the loss to the management. The card is free of cost.

This is a new project that will ease problems associated with the manual system of registering vehicles in Anambra State. We all should accept it, support it and benefit from it.

#AnambraTaxMatters

• Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige is Head, Taxpayer Education, and Enlightenment Team, AiRS

By Sam Otuonye

“Compassion does not just happen. Pity does, but compassion is not pity. It’s not a feeling. Compassion is a viewpoint, a way of life, a perspective, a habit that becomes a discipline – and more than anything else, compassion is a choice we make that love is more important than comfort or convenience.”(Glennon Doyle Melton).

Indeed, love is more important than comfort or convenience! If Nigeria places Compassion in its strategic edge the whole gamut of challenges confronting her today and in the future will evaporate like vapor. There will not be scarcity of fuel and cash. Elections will not be rigged. Electoral officials and security agents will not be compromised. DSS will not raise alarm of people plotting for an Interim Government. And the country will not seem to be in flames, if only we have chosen to be compassionate, according to this American Author and Activist –Glennon D. Melton.

It is soul-depressing when truth is subverted and overthrown in a manner that seems like a coup d’état – clandestinely planned, plotted, and executed, sometimes, not really sure of its success or failure, and giving no wink to the consequences on the rest of us – because they do it for their comfort and convenience. This is the bane of our collective prosperity and the Nigerian people seem to be fed up with it hence, the palpable wave of revolution blowing across the entire length and breadth of the nation.

Labour Party, in its refreshed state, with the entrance of Mr. Peter Obi and his Obedient Movement, campaigned with the slogan of Compassion, in addition to the political campaign clichés of Competence, Capacity, Integrity, etc. Yes, Mr. Peter Obi also promised to move the economy from consumption to production, and so on. All those are well over-flogged campaign promises. But, the introduction of the lexicon ‘Compassion’ is novel and godly. It pierces ubiquitously through the soul and the spirit. That was what melted the hearts of the Nigerian electorate as shown in the elections of February, 25 and March 18, 2023. Nigerians trooped out en masse, both young and old, as never happened in recent history, to cast their votes. They defiled the rain showers, scorching sun and even obvious threats to their lives, to make the voting happen, because someone promised them love, in addition to infrastructure, security, healthcare, etc.

Love, possesses the cutting edge to heal, preserve, re-live, persuade, restrain, sacrifice, and comfort. Both the Bible and Quran attest and espouse the innate characteristics of love as the ultimate essence of believing. In other words, if you do not have the spirit of compassion you are not a true believer. For love is kind, patient, generous, humble, courteous, consistent, joyous, and restraining. It is not self-seeking neither does it keep record of wrongs. It is often said that Nigeria is a very religious country but evil continues to fester unabated. This is because we have churned out leaders that lack the milk of compassion, by omission or commission, over the decades.   Our political landscape has been dotted with leaders that have ethnic bias, religious intolerance, tribal sentiment, unforgiving spirit, self-centeredness, greed, pride and callousness, etc. They have eroded our National Pride and Values so much that Nigeria has been rated as one of the poorest countries in all indices – economic, social, political etc, in the world.

But Labour Party has promised that it will show compassion on Nigerians. Peter Obi has repeatedly and passionately declared that, as if he was jealous of Nigeria. His passion could be captured in the words of the renowned poet, J.P Clark, in his poem, Olokun; and he wrote: “I am jealous and passionate like Jehovah, God of the Jews, and I would that you realize no greater love had woman from man than the one I have for you.” True? Does Peter Obi love Nigeria and Nigerians that much? If he finally becomes the President (as the matter is still in court) would he walk his talk?

A cursory assessment of his leadership records, past and present will speak to his claim. Daily Post reported on March 29, 2023, that Labour Party, at the instance of Mr. Peter Obi, has asked that the N25m, being cost of the gubernatorial nomination form paid by Chief Humphery Anumudu, the governorship aspirant in Imo State, who passed on recently, be refunded to his family. He also advised that the cost of nomination forms for the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States, should be reduced from N25m to N15m and those that have already obtained it at N25m be refunded N10m each. Really!

A quick reference to Doyle’s quote above that; “… compassion is a choice we make that love is more important than comfort or convenience”, comes handy. And it poses these obvious questions: Is it not comfortable and convenient for Labour Party to pocket the N25m of the deceased aspirant and bring sneaky logic into play? After all, the fee was supposed to be non-refundable. Why should the party refund N10m to these rich politicians after making the payment of N25m?  After all, money is not their problem. Why should they fix the Nomination Fee at paltry N25m when Labour party ticket has become a national hot cake? In Imo State alone there are more than ten aspirants jostling for the ticket. But Peter Obi chose compassion above comfort or convenience.

As governor of Anambra State, he refused to loot the treasury to lavishly enrich himself and family. He is one out of very few Nigeria governors who never had a day with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial crime against his state. He even rejected a parcel of land that was graciously allocated to him unsolicited, by the state. He showered love on Anambrarians so much that he never owed salaries and pension throughout his tenure. He invested in stocks and shares for Anambra people and left reasonable positive balances in government accounts. There was development of infrastructure. Education and health sectors received unprecedented improvement and poverty was reduced drastically. He was driven by the spirit of compassion, to ensure that the people did not suffer unreasonably.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance, in her book, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous’ singled out Mr. Obi among very few governors who supported her proposal at National Economic Council (NEC) to save for the rainy day via Sovereign Wealth Fund or Excess Crude Account. She wrote: “The chief opponent of these arguments to deposit savings in the Sovereign Wealth Fund or Excess Crude Account was Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state, chair of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). He was strongly supported by Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state, who was very vocal in voicing his disapproval and his suspicions of the federal government’s management of the Excess Crude Account; Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who objected on constitutional grounds; and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, later chair of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum. Others, such as Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, argued for savings but were not supported. Their voices were drowned out, and National Economic Council (NEC) sessions became unpleasant when this topic arose.”

Whereas, those governors routed for ‘share the money’ syndrome, Peter Obi, in his compassionate disposition wanted some savings as a buffer for any unexpected economic crisis. It takes a compassionate leader to always consider, plan and prepare for the present and future well-being of his subjects. A compassionate leader prioritizes expenditure and avoids wastages. He saves for emergencies and does not loot the treasury.

Mr. Peter Obi has introduced this new dimension to Nigeria politics. He has reconstructed electioneering politics beyond the mundane campaign promises of infrastructure, security, economy, etc., to the extra-mundane – compassion. This ‘soul and spirit’ angle has become strategic that many politicians will displace their routine to embrace it. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia state has rightly identified it as; ‘The Peter Obi Effect’. Explaining why his party, the PDP, lost the governorship election in Abia state to Labour Party in a recent interview on Channels Television, said; “That Peter Obi effect, I predicted it and told my party. I even volunteered that reasonable politicians should not ignore what Peter Obi was doing.”

What was Peter Obi really doing? Marketing Communication scholars would rather opine that he simply deployed a marketing strategy that is referred to as, ‘Unique Selling Proposition’ (USP). Yes, but it was beyond USP. He showed compassion. He preached love. He identified with the poor, the downtrodden, the physically challenged, the broken-hearted, etc. He visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, flood disaster communities and Boko Haram ravaged villages, etc., not to flaunt huge donations and show off wealth but with the message of love and compassion. He sat with them. He hugged them. He cuddled them. He truly sold himself uniquely to the people and became the most cherished and preferred candidate.

 • Sam Otuonye writes from Enugu                                                                                    samotuonye22@gmail.com