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Reps Say NDDC Budget Must Deliver Real Impact for Niger Delta
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By Gloria Ikibah
The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rep. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, has declared that the 2025 NDDC budget will be subjected to strict scrutiny to ensure it delivers measurable development outcomes for communities in the Niger Delta.
Speaking on Tuesday during the budget defence of the Commission at the National Assembly in Abuja, Rep. Ibori-Suenu said the NDDC budget remains a vital instrument through which the Federal Government brings development to the oil-producing region.
In her welcome address, the Committee Chairman said the session was a reflection of a shared commitment to the progress of the region.
She said: “The importance of the NDDC budget cannot be over-emphasised. It remains the principal vehicle through which the Federal Government delivers meaningful development to the people of the Niger Delta.
“Your attendance underscores the significance we all attach to this critical exercise and our shared commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region”.
She commended the Managing Director of the Commission and his team for honouring the invitation, describing their presence as a mark of responsibility and dedication to public service.
According to the committee chair, the House would not treat the 2025 budget as routine, as she emphasised that lawmakers will go beyond approval to ensure that allocations translate into visible improvements in people’s lives.
She listed key priority areas to include infrastructure development, human capacity building, youth empowerment and economic inclusion across the Niger Delta.
Rep. Ibori-Suenu made it clear that the coming fiscal year will mark a departure from past practices.
“As a Committee, we recognise that our duty goes beyond mere approval; it is our responsibility to subject this budget to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that every allocation translates into tangible outcomes for the people.
“It is important to clearly state that the 2025 NDDC Budget will not be business as usual. Every line item must be purposeful, people-centred, and strategically aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” she stated.
She added that the budget must directly address long-standing development gaps and ensure inclusive growth. While assuring the Commission of the committee’s support, the lawmaker emphasised that accountability would not be compromised.
“This budget must speak directly to the aspirations of the Niger Delta people by addressing longstanding developmental gaps, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring that no community is left behind.
“The House Committee on NDDC will continue to offer its unwavering and constructive support to the Commission, while also demanding accountability, transparency, and value for money in the execution of approved projects and programmes,” she said.
In his submission, the Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, stated that the Commission has shifted from a transactional approach to a transformational one, with a clear focus on practical outcomes.
Ogbuku explained that the transformation agenda is designed to be inclusive and far-reaching, covering key areas such as youth training, support for entrepreneurs, infrastructure delivery and overall development.
According to him, the Commission’s renewed direction is aimed at ensuring that its interventions have real impact on communities across the Niger Delta and contribute meaningfully to sustainable growth in the region.
“In line with the promise of the present Management to make the 2025 Budget participatory which is evident of why we are here has been to give the Niger Delta region, a new dawn of progress and development.
Giving a review of the 2024 NDDC budget, he said “an aggregate revenue of N1.911 trillion naira wes projected to fund the 2024 Budget “Budget of Renewed Hope”. This comprise Overhead costs of N76.77 billion and Capital cost of N1.820 trillion.
“As of October 31st, 2025, the Commission’s actual revenue stood at N1.945 trillion, exceeding the target of N1.911 trillion for April 2024 – September 2025 by 104%. This was largely due to the extension of the 2024 budget to December 31st, 2025.
“Due to extension of the capital budget, the performance of the overhead budget as shown in the above table for both 2024 and 2005 fiscal year.
“For the 2025 Budget, our main goal is to strengthen our foundation for sustainable economic growth, marking a snl from transactional to transformational approaches. A key focus is sectoral funding allocation, moving away from line-item budgeting that hindered contractors from resuming projects.
“The 2025 Budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation’, proposes N1.75 trillion based on revenue assumptions. This represents a 9% decrease from 2024, driven by no-borrowing approach.
“The proposed personnel budget estimates for 2025 personnel is N47.5 Billion. We shall sustain our efforts in managing our overhead costs. Accordingly, Overhead costs are projected at N96.4 Billion.
“Investing in critical infrastructure is a key component of our fiscal strategy under the 2025 Budget Proposals. The present Management are renavigating its process of intervention by adopting Public-Private-Partnership model as a vehicle to drive a sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.
“Our fiscal reforms shail introduce new performance management frameworks to regulate the overhead cost. Accordingly, only activities that are tied to measurable programmes will be approved. We have moved away from the previously line tem budgeting system to sectoral allocation of fund to encourage confident.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has removed the Divisional Police Officer of Oyigbo Police Division in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state over alleged extortion and abuse of office.
The DPO’s removal followed allegation by a rights activist at the weekend, that the DPO extorted ₦500,000 from an individual who was allegedly arrested and detained at the station without any known offence.
The activist who displayed evidence of the payment on social media also alleged that the officer preferred what he described as a ridiculous charge against a woman, accusing her of stealing her own children in the course of a dispute with her estranged husband.
According to the activist (names witheld) the woman was subsequently remanded in a correctional custodial centre based on the charges, a development he condemned.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson for the state police command, Blessing Agabe, the coommand acknowledged receipt of the complaints against the Oyigbo DPO.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the DPO’s removal was in line with
the command’s commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism,.
She said the decision of CP Adepoju to promptly remove the DPO from his position is to pave the way for a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.
She, however, said the Commissioner of Police has assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted diligently, professionally and without bias.
The statement partly reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a publication currently circulating on various online platforms alleging misconduct involving a Divisional Police Officer in the command.
“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju, expressed his deep dismay over the incident and reiterated that the command will not tolerate any form of misconduct, abuse of office, or actions capable of undermining public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
“In response to the allegations and in line with the command’s commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism, the officer concerned has been immediately removed from his position pending the outcome of a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter.”
Dozens of foreigners have fled their homes after the alleged k!lling of a Malawian man at the Jika Joe informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
According to the Times Lives, the incident followed a huge protest in the Pietermaritzburg city centre by anti-immigrant civic body March and March as part of their campaign to drive out illegal foreigners from the country.
Residents claimed the man who lived in the settlement with his family was allegedly stoned to d3ath by a group armed with sticks.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda, who confirmed the incident said police are investigating a case of m8rder after the death of a 29-year-old foreigner at the settlement on Friday, June 19, 2026.
“Information available at this stage suggests that the deceased was allegedly attacked by a group of people at Sable Flats Manor but managed to escape and ran towards the Jika Joe informal settlement. Reports indicate that the deceased slipped into the river. He was found on the riverbed with a cut on the head and injuries on the mouth. He was declared d3ad at the scene,” Netshiunda stated.
The circumstances that led to the attack and the subsequent d3ath are under investigation.
Netshiunda said the area is stable with police monitoring the situation.
However, area ward councillor Suraya Reddy said the area was still volatile on Saturday as the foreigners had to flee their homes in fear of their lives.
“Many of them were attacked and were running, without shoes or their possessions, and came under attack. Some of them were injured, and we arranged temporary shelter for them. They are mainly Malawians and we had to engage private medical care because they were refused treatment at government facilities,” Reddy said.
“A network of NGOs are arranging a bus to have them transported to Durban, where we hope they can join other Malawians who were also chased away from their homes. It’s heartbreaking to see this unfolding here. It’s a human rights abuse and we cannot sit back and watch people attack other human beings for whatever reason.”
“It was a terrible sight seeing people running in terror. Even the children were traumatised,” said one resident who asked not to be named.
It is further alleged that the d3ad man’s brother was also injured during the incident.
Msunduzi municipality mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla condemned the incident.
He described it as a crisis, saying human rights were being violated.
“Human lives are now at risk, whether foreign nationals or South Africans. We cannot allow people to come into communities and take a life,” he said.
Naija punch news
Royalprince Media Services, publishers of Emporium Reporters, Emporium Magazine and Emporium Online TV, has announced the maiden edition of the Emporium Leadership Lecture and Awards 2026, scheduled to hold on June 25, 2026, in Abuja.
The event, which coincides with the 10th anniversary celebration of Emporium Reporters, is designed to recognise outstanding leadership, institutional excellence and remarkable contributions to national development.
With the theme, “From Clicks to Credibility: Digital Media’s Role in Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy,” the lecture will focus on the role of digital media in promoting credible information, responsible journalism, accountability and democratic growth in Nigeria.
The event will be chaired by Chief Sunday Akinlabi Dare, CON, FNIS, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, while Abdullahi O. Haruna Haruspice, Publisher of World Entourage Magazine, will deliver the keynote address.
The event will feature distinguished personalities including Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, as Special Guest of Honour, alongside the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu; the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu; Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR; Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.
As part of the event, distinguished Nigerians and institutions who have demonstrated exceptional service and leadership will be honoured. The award recipients include ACC John Attah Onoja, National Commander, Mining Marshals, NSCDC; Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Adekunle Balogun, Director Media, Public Relations and Protocol, NIDCOM; CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service; Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, OFR, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry; and Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman, NUJ FCT Council.
Also to be recognised are Fame Foundation for Gender Advocacy and Social Impact; Dr. Wisdom Enang, Energy Consultant; Hon. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, former Member, House of Representatives; Dr. Innocent Odey, Founder, InnoBec Business School; Ambrose Omordion, Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Consulting Limited; and Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria.
Speaking on the event, the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer of Royalprince Media Services, Lukman Laleye Babalola, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to promoting credible journalism, responsible leadership and national development.
He stated that the 10th anniversary of Emporium Reporters is a milestone that celebrates a decade of impactful reporting, public engagement and dedication to informing society.
The event will also feature the unveiling of the Special 10th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of Emporium Magazine, documenting the achievements of personalities and institutions making meaningful contributions across different sectors.
The Emporium Leadership Lecture and Awards 2026 is expected to attract government officials, media executives, corporate leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders committed to advancing credible communication and democratic values.
E-Signed
Lukman Laleye Babalola
Publisher/CEO
Royalprince Media Services
22nd June,2026
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