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21 Years After NDDC Creation, N’Delta Still Underdeveloped – Social Activist Laments

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4 years ago

November 5, 2021

21 years after the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, a Commission saddled with the responsibility of developing the region was established, the region remains underdeveloped and still agitating for development as it used to be years ago.

Programme coordinator, Social Action, Isaac Botti, made this saddening submission in Benin on behalf of the Managing Director of the body in a Town Hall Meeting organised by Social Action with support from MacArthur Foundation.

The Town Hall Meeting, with the theme: ‘Community Approach to Promoting Accountability, Inclusive and Efficient Service Delivery by the NDDC’ was aimed at enlightening members of the public on the need to be involved in the preparation and implementation of the NDDC budget and the need for them to engaging the Commission in execution of project in their locality.

In his opening remarks, Botti lamented that despite generating over N100 trillion to the federation account in the past few years, the Niger Delta region which generated such huge amount has nothing to show for it.

While adding that the NDDC has failed woefully in its mandate of developing the region in terms of infrastructure and social amenities, Botti lamented that the Niger Delta of today was not what the founders of NDDC envisioned when they established the Commission.

“The Niger Delta where over 100trillion has come out as revenue for the government, is far from development. The Niger Delta we have today is not what was envisioned when this Commission was set up 21 years ago.

“When the NDDC was set up 21 years ago, we were of the hope that by 2020, we will have a Niger Delta of the same standard of Infrastructure, same quality of life like Dubai but unfortunately, 21 years after, we are faced with that sad reality – development is still far from us,” he lamented.

He blamed the citizenry for being part of the problem in terms of NDDC failure in developing the region by not holding the Commission responsible and not asking questions on some projects executed by the NDDC in their domains.

“A fundamental challenge that we have observed, which is also critical to the level of corruption in the Commission is that, we as citizens, we are not engaging the NDDC enough. Many things are being done that we are not part of. A lot of things are being done that we do not know anything about.

“We want to strengthen citizens participation in NDDC budget process and its implementation,” he said.

Panel of discussants drawn from representives from comminity heads (chiefs) community leaders, host communities representives, civil society organistions, market women, representives from the pysically challenged, etc all said that the NDDC has failed in delivering its mandate.

They also berrated the Commission for not involving communities whenever projects are being executed in such communities.

Related Topics:MacArthur Foundation NDDC Social Action

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Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

2 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

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US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

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2 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

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US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

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2 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”