NDDC Immortalizes Pioneer OMPADEC Chairman Albert Horsfall

The Niger Delta Development Commission has paid glowing tribute to the late pioneer Chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, Chief Albert Horsfall, describing his legacies in the Niger Delta region as significant and enduring.

The tribute was made during a condolence register signing ceremony held at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, which brought together former Managing Directors of the NDDC and retired Directors of OMPADEC to honour the late statesman.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said Chief Horsfall was a true Nigerian who did much to promote national unity and the development of the Niger Delta.

According to Ebie, Chief Horsfall served with integrity, noting that five separate panels that investigated his stewardship after the dissolution of OMPADEC cleared him of all corruption allegations.

Chief Horsfall was a great man whose contributions to the region and the country will continue to be remembered, Ebie said.

As a mark of honour, Ebie directed that flags at the NDDC 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 will be named after Chief Albert Horsfall in recognition of his foundational role in the development of the Niger Delta.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said cultural events such as birth and death unite people, and that it was important to collectively honour those who contributed to the growth of the Commission.

Ogbuku said it has become the culture of the 7th Governing Board to recognize and bring together all those who have served the Commission, both living and departed. He recalled that this was evident during the 25th anniversary of the NDDC when former leaders were recognized for their service.

The roads, 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 recognized, Ogbuku told the former officials present.

He further disclosed that the Commission will soon commence an immortalization initiative through a tree-planting campaign as part of its green revolution, where trees will be planted and named after distinguished former officials who served the Commission.

Ogbuku described the condolence register signing ceremony as the first of its kind in the history of the Commission, noting that it reflects the legacy of remembrance the present leadership wants to leave behind.

He condoled with the family of the late Chief Horsfall and prayed for strength to uphold his legacy.

Also speaking, former NDDC Managing Director, Chief Timi Alaibe, commended the NDDC Board and Management for reuniting former Managing Directors and OMPADEC Directors to honour Horsfall. He described the late Horsfall as a patriotic Nigerian who was passionate about the development of the Niger Delta and the actualization of the NDDC headquarters.

Responding on behalf of the family, the son of the late pioneer Chairman, Mr Sekropribo Horsfall, thanked the NDDC leadership for recognizing his father’s contributions, saying the family was pleased to see his legacy honoured amid the ongoing development projects across the nine Niger Delta states.

The event was contained in a statement issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs, on September 25, 2026.