Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh has reassured the public that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not been scrapped, putting to rest rumors sparked by the recent establishment of the Ministry of Regional Development by President Bola Tinubu.
The rumors emerged after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and President Tinubu announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Sports Development and the Ministry of Niger Delta. As part of the changes, Momoh, formerly Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, now heads the Ministry of Regional Development, which will oversee the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Speaking to the media, Momoh emphasized that the NDDC remains active and that its restructuring does not diminish its operations.
“It’s necessary to clarify so that there’s no misunderstanding,” Momoh stated. “The Niger Delta has always focused on the nine states of the region. But with the addition of other regional development commissions, such as the NEDC and the SEDC, it was essential to create a ministry to oversee all these agencies.”
He explained that the former Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has been renamed the Ministry of Regional Development to incorporate the other regional agencies.
“I want the people of the Niger Delta to know that nothing has been taken away from them,” Momoh continued. “The NDDC remains intact, now part of the Ministry of Regional Development alongside other agencies. It’s simply a change in name, not in function or structure.”
Momoh concluded by assuring residents of the Niger Delta that the ministry’s expansion only enhances its capabilities. “The NDDC’s structures and purpose are unchanged. The ministry’s name change reflects a broader mandate but does not affect the NDDC’s commitment to the Niger Delta.”
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