Conspiracy Among Board Members Caused Problems In NDDC — Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has attributed the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) persistent challenges to internal conspiracies among board members, a statement made during the NDDC’s 25th anniversary grand finale on July 12, 2025, in Port Harcourt. 

Akpabio, who oversees the commission’s legislative oversight, claimed disunity led to mismanagement and abandoned projects, citing over 14,000 unfinished initiatives inherited by the current board. He called for unity to restore public trust.

Akpabio, a former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, suggested past boards prioritized personal interests, a claim supported by historical audits revealing $1.2 billion in unaccounted funds. However, some stakeholders question his narrative, pointing to his own tenure’s controversies, including the 2020 Joy Nunieh allegations. 

The current board, led by Chiedu Ebie, has pledged transparency, but Akpabio’s remarks have reignited debates on governance, with 300 attendees at the event reflecting mixed reactions.