Senate rejects move to include Anambra in NDDC, bickering over Kogi

Feb 28, 2024

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a move to include Anambra State in the membership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The rejection of the move led to bickering between senators Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North) and Jibrin Isah popularly known as Echocho (APC Kogi East) at plenary.

Senator Nwoye had in his lead debate on a bill argued that Anambra deserved membership of NDDC since it has been collecting 13% derivation since 2021 on account of appreciable volume of oil production on yearly basis.

Daily Trust reports that the bill is seeking amendment of the NDDC Act for inclusion of Anambra State in the commission, being an oil producing state.

But most of the senators, who contributed to the debate, kicked against Nwoye’s submission on the grounds that states like Kogi and Lagos were not covered by NDDC operations despite being oil producing states.

Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho) said his state (Kogi) has also been collecting 13% derivation as an oil producing state, a claim Senator Nwoye countered, by repeatedly declaring with relevant documents in his hands, that Anambra and not Kogi, has been collecting 13% derivation.

But Senator Echocho however, told Senator Nwoye to limit his argument to Anambra State and allow the Senate to decide the fate of his bill.

Speaking on the matter, the President of the State, Godswill Akpabio, said if the argument of Senator Nwoye on proposed membership of Anambra State in NDDC is to be accepted by the Senate, then Lagos State, which has two oil wells in Badagry, will also clamour for membership of the commission.

The bill was rejected after majority of senators voted against its passage.