The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has honoured Chief Albert Horsfall, the late pioneer Chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), for his significant contributions to the development of the Niger Delta region. NDDC Governing Board Chairman, Chiedu Ebie, described Horsfall as a patriotic Nigerian whose contributions to the region and the country remained significant and enduring.
Ebie made these remarks during a condolence register signing in honour of the late OMPADEC chairman at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. He noted that Horsfall contributed significantly to the development of the Niger Delta and promoted the unity of Nigeria. Five panels that investigated Horsfall’s activities following the dissolution of OMPADEC cleared him of corruption allegations, according to Ebie.
The NDDC board chairman directed that the commission’s flags at its headquarters, offices in the nine Niger Delta states, and the Abuja liaison office be flown at half-mast in honour of Horsfall. He also announced that the ancillary building at the NDDC headquarters would be named after the late OMPADEC chairman in recognition of his contributions to the development of the region.
NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, said the gesture was part of the present administration’s efforts to recognise people who contributed to the growth of the commission and the Niger Delta. The commission had adopted a culture of bringing together former officials who had served the organisation, both living and deceased, to appreciate their contributions.
Ogbuku noted that the roads, street lights, schools, and hospitals that the people of Niger Delta benefit from today are part of the contributions made by former officials. He disclosed that the NDDC would soon begin a tree-planting initiative to immortalise former officials who contributed to the commission’s development.
A former NDDC Managing Director, Timi Alaibe, commended the commission’s leadership for bringing together former managing directors and retired OMPADEC directors to honour Horsfall. Alaibe described the deceased as a patriotic Nigerian who was passionate about the development of the Niger Delta and the NDDC headquarters.
Horsfall’s son, Sekropribo, thanked the NDDC leadership for recognising his father’s contributions to the development of the Niger Delta region. The family was particularly pleased that his father’s legacy was being recognised, especially against the backdrop of development projects currently being executed by the NDDC across the nine Niger Delta states.
Key points
- NDDC names building after late OMPADEC chair Albert Horsfall
- Five panels cleared Horsfall of corruption allegations
- NDDC to start tree-planting initiative to immortalise former officials
