Court orders NDDC to seek Gov Wike’s approval before executing projects

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to always seek the consent of the State Government before executing any project in Rivers state.

The Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike had through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, dragged NDDC, its former Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere and former Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Derrick Mene to court for carrying out activities in the state without the approval of the state government.

Delivering judgement yesterday, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, granted the declaration sought by the government that under Rivers State Physical Planning Law, State Land Law and Urban Development Law, stating that the NDDC or its agent has no power to claim any land or execute any project in any part of Rivers State without the consent of the government.

Enebeli with reference to 60 planned projects by NDDC which resulted to the suit, held that the projects, if allowed to be executed, would affect urban development and Land Use Act of the state. He ruled that the NDDC should seek the consent of the state government for the execution of the projects. Enebeli, however, refused to grant the declaration sought by the claimants to void section seven and eight of NDDC Act which borders on the developmental map of the nine states of the Niger Delta region.