NDDC Honours Pioneer OMPADEC Chairman, Late Horsfall
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has described the legacies and contributions of the pioneer Chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, late Chief Albert Horsfall, to the development of the Niger Delta region as significant and enduring.
Speaking during a condolence register signing ceremony by former Managing Directors of the NDDC and retired Directors of OMPADEC at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, stated that late Chief Horsfall did much to promote the unity of Nigeria, describing him as a true Nigerian whose life and service should be emulated.
Ebie noted that the late Horsfall made significant contributions to the development of the Niger Delta region, adding that five panels that investigated his activities after the dissolution of OMPADEC cleared him of corruption charges.
According to him, “Chief Horsfall was a great man,” whose contributions to the region and the country would continue to be remembered.
The NDDC Governing Board Chairman directed that the Commission’s flags at its headquarters, the nine State offices and the Abuja Liaison Office be flown at half-mast in honour of the late OMPADEC Chairman.
He also announced that the Ancillary Building at the NDDC headquarters would be named after Chief Horsfall in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Niger Delta.
In his remarks, NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku said death, burial, and birth were cultural events that brought people together, noting that in African traditional practice, communities rejoice when a child is born and mourn when an individual passes on.
He observed that there was no enmity during such occasions, as people came together either to celebrate or mourn, stressing the importance of unity and collective remembrance.
Ogbuku said the new culture of the 7th NDDC Governing Board was to bring together all those who had served the Commission, noting that the Board was committed to honouring both departed and living former officials.
He recalled that this was demonstrated during the 25th anniversary of the NDDC, when former leaders and others who had contributed to the Commission’s development were recognised.
He said, “The roads, the street lights, schools and hospitals that the people of the Niger Delta benefit from today are part of the contributions you have made in one way or another. These things cannot be erased. You have added to the building blocks of this Commission, and you must be recognised.”
Ogbuku further disclosed that the NDDC would soon begin immortalising those who served the Commission through a tree-planting campaign, with trees planted in their honour bearing their names as part of the Commission’s planned green revolution.
The NDDC boss described the condolence register signing ceremony in honour of the late pioneer OMPADEC Chairman as the first of its kind in the Commission, stressing that it represented part of the legacy the present leadership would leave behind.
He said the gesture demonstrated that those who contributed to the region’s development would be remembered and honoured.
He expressed condolences to the family of the late Chief Horsfall and prayed for strength for them to uphold his legacy.
In his remarks, former NDDC Managing Director, Chief Timi Alaibe, commended the NDDC Managing Director, Governing Board, and Management for bringing together former Managing Directors of the Commission and former Directors of OMPADEC to honour Chief Horsfall’s legacy.
Alaibe described the late Horsfall as a patriotic Nigerian who worked for the development of the Niger Delta and was passionate about the NDDC headquarters building.
He condoled with the family and prayed they would remain strong and continue to uphold the legacy their father left behind.
The son of the late Chief Horsfall, Mr Sekropribo Horsfall, thanked the NDDC leadership for honouring his father’s contributions to Niger Delta development.
He said he was particularly pleased to see his father’s legacy recognised, given the development projects the NDDC is executing across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
Seledi Thompson-Wakama
Director, Corporate Affairs
September 25, 2026