By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Warri
DELTA: Prominent Itsekiri leaders in Delta State have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject calls for scrapping the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in favor of a South-South Development Commission, warning that such a move could disrupt ongoing projects and hinder regional progress.
In a letter dated February 18, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT), led by Chief Edward Ekpoko and Sir Amorighoye Sunny Mene, emphasized that the NDDC was established with a clear mandate to address infrastructural and environmental challenges unique to the Niger Delta.
They argued that merging it with a broader regional body would dilute its impact and overlook the specific needs of oil-producing communities.
“The Niger Delta remains the economic backbone of our nation, and its continued stability is vital for national growth,” the letter read. “While we support the establishment of the South-South Development Commission, it should not replace the NDDC, which was created as an interventionist agency with dedicated funding from the federal government and international oil companies (IOCs).”
The leaders stressed that the NDDC’s role in mitigating the environmental degradation of the region, as highlighted by the Willink’s Commission before Nigeria’s independence, cannot be replaced by a generic regional commission.
They warned that dismantling the agency could create administrative bottlenecks and threaten the fragile peace in the region.
“Your Excellency, we trust that your administration, known for its commitment to fairness and national development, will strengthen the NDDC rather than dissolve it,” they concluded.
The appeal comes amid ongoing debates about the restructuring of regional development commissions, with various interest groups lobbying for changes to how federal intervention funds are managed.