President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to screen and confirm Dr. Zainab Marwa as a member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Dr. Marwa is nominated to represent the North-east geopolitical zone on the commission's board, filling the vacancy left by Abdulrazak Namdas, who resigned in March to pursue his governorship ambition in Adamawa State.
Presidential Request Submitted to Senate
The president's request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday's plenary session. In the letter, Tinubu stated that the nomination aligns with Section 2 of the Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act. He emphasized that the appointment is intended to restore the North-east's representation on the commission's governing board.
Tinubu expressed confidence that Dr. Marwa's appointment would ensure continuity in the board's activities and preserve the zone's representation in the affairs of the intervention agency. The letter reads in part: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 2 of the Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the nomination of Dr Zainab Marwa as a member representing the North-east in the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.”
The president further noted: “The Senate is invited to note that the appointment of Dr Zainab Marwa is to fill a vacuum created by the resignation of the immediate past member of the board, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, from the North-East Zone, who resigned on the 30th day of March, 2026, to contest for the position of Governor of Adamawa State.”
Senate Refers Nomination to Committee
After reading the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on NDDC for screening and consideration. He directed the committee to report back to the Senate within two weeks.
Background on NDDC
The NDDC was established in 2000 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo through the NDDC Act. The commission was created to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges facing Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region. Its formation followed decades of agitation by communities over environmental degradation, poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and underdevelopment, despite the region's significant contribution to the nation's oil wealth.
The NDDC is mandated to formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the Niger Delta and to conceive, plan, and implement projects aimed at improving living conditions. Core responsibilities include the provision of roads, bridges, water supply, electricity, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure, and environmental remediation projects.
The commission coordinates development programmes across nine member states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers. It serves as a federal intervention agency for addressing developmental deficits in oil-producing communities.
Challenges and Oversight
Over the years, the NDDC has undertaken thousands of infrastructure and human capital development projects. However, the agency has faced persistent allegations of corruption, project abandonment, and financial mismanagement. These issues have prompted several audits and investigations by the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies.
The governing board of the commission comprises representatives from member states, oil-producing companies, geopolitical zones, and key federal ministries. The board is responsible for providing policy direction and oversight for the agency's operations and development programmes.
