The death of Chief Albert Horsfall, pioneer Executive Chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), has been described as a significant loss to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria. Dr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, a former Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), expressed his condolences in a statement released in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Horsfall was remembered as a patriot who made substantial contributions to the development of the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
According to Audu-Ohwavborua, Thursday, September 24, 2026, would remain a day of remembrance for Horsfall. His tenure at OMPADEC was a crucial part of the institutional foundation that later became the NDDC. Audu-Ohwavborua highlighted Horsfall's significance, stating that he was more than just the pioneer Executive Chairman of OMPADEC; he was a foundational figure in the institutional story of Niger Delta development.
The NDDC Board and Management honoured Horsfall's legacy by gathering at the commission's headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to sign the condolence register. Audu-Ohwavborua commended this gesture, noting that the NDDC headquarters building served as a reminder of Horsfall's contribution to the commission's institutional history. He recalled that Horsfall laid the foundation stone of the headquarters building in 1995.
However, the project was abandoned for years due to lack of funds. The NDDC Management, under the leadership of Obong Nsima Ekere, revived the project in 2017. The Governing Board supported the decision, and the Federal Executive Council approved the re-award of the completion contract to a new contractor in 2017. Audu-Ohwavborua, who was Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision at the time, confirmed that the project reached practical completion in 2019.
Audu-Ohwavborua described the development as part of the institutional continuum that linked Horsfall's leadership at OMPADEC with the NDDC established under the NDDC Act of 2000. He stated that the NDDC of today stands within a continuum of an idea to which Horsfall gave leadership at a critical moment in the history of the Niger Delta. This highlights the lasting impact of Horsfall's contributions to the region.
Beyond his role at OMPADEC, Audu-Ohwavborua recalled Horsfall's contributions to Nigeria's security and intelligence architecture. As a trained police officer and pioneer member of the former National Security Organisation (NSO), Horsfall played a role in the development of Nigeria's intelligence establishment. He later served as the pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and became the second Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), now known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
Audu-Ohwavborua concluded that Horsfall's contributions to national service and Niger Delta development would remain part of the region's institutional history. His legacy continues to be celebrated, and his impact on the Niger Delta region and Nigeria will not be forgotten. The condolence message from Audu-Ohwavborua reflects the high esteem in which Horsfall was held by his peers and the significant role he played in shaping the region's development.
Key points
- Dr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua mourns the passing of Chief Albert Horsfall, describing him as a patriot who contributed significantly to the development of the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
- Chief Albert Horsfall laid the foundation stone of the NDDC headquarters building in 1995, which was later completed in 2019.
- Horsfall played a significant role in Nigeria's security and intelligence architecture, serving as the pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the second Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS).
