The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has appealed for the creation of a Special Court to handle cases of theft and related offences against the commission, in a bid to fast-track judicial processes.
He made the appeal recently while making a presentation at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Enugu State, tagged: “Stand Out, Stand Tall”.
The NDDC boss said establishment of such a court will ensure that all cases and offences involving the agency were resolved in record time.
He said delayed court processes were among the key challenges hindering the commission’s effectiveness.
“We believe that if there is a special court to accelerate the trial of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and kidnapping, it will serve as a strong deterrent”, he said.
He stressed that the continued detention of suspects in prison for prolonged periods while awaiting trial was no longer helpful or beneficial to the commission, hence the urgent need for a special court to handle the agency’s cases.
Ogbuku also made a further appeal for the people of the Niger Delta to take advantage of the region’s abundant blue economy resources.
According to him, once these opportunities are fully explored and appreciated, the case for the region’s development would gain broader acceptance.
He explained that the push for the blue economy had led the commission to embark on massive coastal road construction projects aimed at providing proper road networks across the region.
“We are also exploring the blue economy by encouraging youth participation through internship programmes where they can acquire skills”, he said.
He further disclosed plans for a local scholarship scheme to benefit qualified individuals in the oil-rich region, while announcing an end to favouritism in the commission’s operations.
Responding to the presentation, Senator Dino Melaye called on the NDDC boss to ensure that transparency becomes the guiding principle in the award of contracts, procurement, and other activities, so that the people of the Niger Delta can benefit maximally from the system.
