Former President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed abandoned Niger Delta projects on the frequent leadership changes at the NDDC.
He made this assertion during a plenary session at the NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebration in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Jonathan emphasized that poor leadership continuity has prevented the completion of major abandoned projects over the years.
According to him, the Niger Delta Development Commission has had 11 Chief Executive Officers in just 25 years of existence.
This, he said, translates to an average tenure of just two years and three months per CEO—too short to deliver results.
“Tell me,” he asked, “how can one plan or execute meaningful development within two years and three months?”
The former president stressed that most abandoned Niger Delta projects were not intentional but a product of unstable leadership.
He explained that due to limited time, many executives fall back on contractor-driven efforts instead of well-planned initiatives.
However, he praised President Bola Tinubu for retaining Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as NDDC Managing Director since his 2022 appointment.
He said this singular act of continuity shows Tinubu’s commitment to sustainable development in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Jonathan noted that Ogbuku, appointed under Buhari, officially took office in January 2023, before Tinubu assumed office in May.
“If President Tinubu weren’t serious about the region’s progress, Ogbuku would’ve been replaced within five months,” he remarked.
He said previous long-serving leaders like Onyema Ugochukwu and Timi Alaibe made an impact because they were given enough time.
In conclusion, Jonathan urged the federal government to institutionalize leadership stability at the NDDC to ensure long-term regional growth.
