The Ministry of Regional Development has applauded the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for its inclusive budgeting process, which actively engages stakeholders in the development of the Niger Delta region.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, NDDCs
Director, Corporate Affairs

Delivering the keynote address at the NDDC 2025 Budget Conference and Partners for Sustainable Development, PSD, Forum held in Port Harcourt, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, praised the Commission for aligning its budgeting process with the provisions of extant laws.

Commending the NDDC for convening key stakeholders to collaborate on the 2025 budget, she stated, “This conference reflects a collective commitment to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta. It presents an atmosphere conducive to achieving an effective budgeting system for the NDDC, in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“As members of the Regional Development Commission, we do not merely oversee budgets; we shape destinies. If you are not seeing yourself as such before now, I plead with you to begin to see yourself as a custodian of your regional growth, guardian of its resources and promoter of its future.”

“How we spend reflects what we believe in. Budgets are more than financial instruments; they reveal, in clear terms, the values we prioritise and the future we aspire to build. A mirror of our values and a map for the future,” she said.

Ogbe emphasised the need for innovative, transparent, and participatory budgeting practices to ensure that available resources are maximally deployed to meet the region’s most pressing needs.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said that the Commission had started implementing a new governance structure prepared by KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to ensure accountability and effective performance.

He said that a new institutional culture was anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance, noting that the NDDC was determined to strengthen its corporate governance system and improve its internal processes.In his address, NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, highlighted the Commission’s renewed focus on partnerships and the needs of the region.

He noted: “The budget is for the people of the Niger Delta. A needs assessment is periodically conducted to ensure that projects meet the needs of the people. For example, Operation Light Up the Niger Delta is born out of a need for improved illumination in the communities of the Niger Delta.

“We are building strong collaborations in both the private and public sectors to deliver meaningful and lasting infrastructure,” he said, citing ongoing work with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, on the Kaa-Ataba road and bridge. The project, he revealed, is the longest bridge in Rivers State and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Echoing this, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, noted the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that the 2025 Budget reflects the needs and aspirations of the people of the region.

He stated: “I applaud the NDDC leadership for convening this crucial budget conference with all of the key players in our region. It takes dedicated work and collaboration to address the Region’s problems.

“The leadership of the National Assembly is committed to making sure that the 2025 Budget represents the needs of our people, particularly now that we have a stable, goal-oriented NDDC.”

Representing traditional institutions, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, King Felix Mujakperuo, called for a seamless handover of community-based projects to ensure that they were properly maintained.

...as Curtain Falls on Tournament

The organizers of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football showpiece, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened the Prosperity Cup, have noted with satisfaction that the competition is beginning to yield fruits after years of dedicated efforts and investment in the tournament.

Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe stated this while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, ahead of Friday’s final showdown at the Samson Siasia Stadium.

He remarked that he was pleased that after years of investments in the tournament, Bayelsans are beginning to see the dividends of the competition, stating that the organizers were working round the clock to ensure that players that participated in the competition are properly managed by the state Football Association.

According to him, the number of players from the tournament in Bayelsa United and other Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL clubs speaks volumes of how the Prosperity Cup has continued to be a platform for grassroot footballers to unleash their potential and realize their dreams.

The DG hinted that over 540 goals have been scored so far in the tournament from 224 matches played at 26 centres across the eight local government areas of the state, averaging an impressive 2.4% of goals per game.

He explained that 231 teams participated in this year’s tournament, pointing out that 27 teams registered in the women’s version of the competition with 20 teams participating because some of the teams did not meet the deadline for registration, adding that both Afini Ladies and Ezuogha Soccer Academy deserved to be in final of the women’s event.

Mr. Akpe stated that the excitement of the tournament will start on Thursday with the losers’ final by 1.00pm as Bayelsa Stars Queens FC of Yenagoa battle Bayelsa State School of Nursing Sciences, BYSCON Queens of Tombia, while Bayelsa United Feeders will face former champions, Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene, Ekeremor.

The DG further explained that the grand finale will come up on Friday 13th June, 2025 with the female final between Afini Ladies of Amarata and Ezuogha Soccer Academy, before the men’s final between Eternal Grace Ministry, EGM FC and Advance Dreams FA, both of Yenagoa.

Dignitaries expected at the finals include, Mr Akpe said the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji. Ibrahim Gusau; Chairman National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General, National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olapade will be in Yenagoa for the final.

Other guests that would be gracing the occasion are Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service; Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL; George Aluo, Chairman Nigeria National League, NNL and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National League, NNL, Danlami Alanana, amongst others.

Responding to questions, Mr. Akpe pointed out that, fifty million naira (#50,000,000) has been set aside for the winners of this year’s edition, with the winner of the men’s tournament to smile home with ten million naira (#10,000,000), first runner up will get five million naira (#5,000,000) while third position will go home with two million naira (#2,000,000), 4th place will receive one million naira (#1,000,000) and five hundred thousand naira (#500,000) as consolation prize.

The women’s champion will take home #5,000,000, first runner up #2,000,000 while third position will get #1,500,000, 4th place #1,000,000 and #500,000 as consolation prize.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has openly acknowledged that the infrastructure development template used by former Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in Aba during his tenure is guiding his own ongoing efforts to rebuild the commercial city, ABN TV reports.

Governor Otti made this revelation during Senator Kalu’s courtesy visit to his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South, on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Speaking warmly of the former Governor’s achievements, Otti said:
“I am still using former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu’s infrastructure template for Aba. He did well in Aba when he was Governor. That template is not wrong — you fix the place that generates the revenue, and the revenue will come and be used to develop other areas.”

Governor Otti emphasized that his administration believes in building on the foundation of past leaders who left positive legacies, rather than discarding effective strategies out of political differences.

“Government and governance is a continuum. It can be broken, but a wise government must go back and recover what worked. There is no need to dwell on the past or fight anyone. We are focused on resetting and moving forward,” he added.

The Governor praised the foresight of Senator Kalu, recalling how his late mother was an ardent admirer of the former Governor’s road construction projects in Aba.

“My late mother used to say good things about what Senator Orji Kalu did in Aba. I have always believed that the approach he used was correct — start by fixing the revenue-generating centre of the state and spread development from there,” Otti explained.

Governor Otti’s administration has been widely lauded for its aggressive road reconstruction and urban renewal in Aba, which is revitalizing the city’s economy and restoring investor confidence.

The Governor also revealed that his infrastructure work in Aba is already yielding tangible results. He cited the recent N200 million private donation from a grateful Aba businessman to support the government’s efforts in transforming the city’s road network.

“People in Aba can now do business day and night. There is no sleep in Aba anymore. Money is changing hands, and the city’s economy is growing faster. That is how it should be,” Otti noted.

In his response, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu commended Governor Otti for the remarkable progress his administration has achieved and expressed satisfaction that his developmental philosophy was being continued.

“You have done well for our State. I am very happy to see that the road from Igbere to Umuahia, which was abandoned for over 16 years, is now smooth and motorable because of your leadership,” Senator Kalu said.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that he will continue to support President Bola Tinubu as he takes difficult but courageous and necessary economic decisions to fix Nigeria’s economy.

He added that Tinubu made a courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy and that it ought to have been done long ago.

‎‎Otti spoke on Sunday, when he received a former Governor of Abia State and the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Sen. Chris Adighije, who once represented Abia Central Senatorial District, in his county homes, Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

The duo paid Otti a friendly visit to commend and encourage him for the good work he is doing in the state, and also used the opportunity to discuss governance issues with him.

‎Otti said, “When you talk about supporting President Tinubu, the President and I are very good friends and our friendship predates party politics and current positions; we agree on so many issues, and as it is natural, we know where we disagree. But, when you talk about the economy, what Mr. The president doing has always been my position for a long time.

“I urge people to go back and read my columns at the back of Thisday Newspaper, some years back, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, where I said that it was time to remove fuel subsidy when off-takers were rejecting crude shipped to them, saying that they have no need for it.

‎“So, it requires somebody with courage to remove that subsidy, and I am in support of it. We have behaved in an irresponsible manner for a very long time. And, when you have years of irresponsible behaviour, the correction would be tough, difficult, and painful. It is the correction that we are going through now; if we don’t lose faith, we will eventually get it right.