NDDC Pledges To Renovate King Amachree Memorial Hall In Buguma Rivers State

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to renovate the historic Memorial Hall of King J.T. Princewill, Amachree VII in Buguma, Rivers State.

The commission said the project is part of its broader mandate to preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the Niger Delta region.

The pledge was made by the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, when he addressed the Kalabari Traditional Rulers Council at the palace of the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, in Buguma.

Dr Ogbuku, who led a high-profile delegation of NDDC management and staff, alongside former staff of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, said the commission’s vision for regional development goes beyond building roads and bridges.

According to him, the NDDC is also committed to preserving history, culture and heritage which are essential to the identity of the people of Niger Delta.

He said, Our development mandate goes beyond the construction of roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure. It also entails preserving our history, culture and heritage, which are essential to our identity as a people. We must ensure that these enduring legacies are protected and sustained for present and future generations.

Ogbuku described the Memorial Hall of King J.T. Princewill as a monumental landmark representing the rich history, traditional heritage and enduring identity of the Kalabari people. He noted that the rehabilitation project will restore the facility into a beacon of historical pride for community members and visitors.

The NDDC boss was in Buguma to pay last respects to the pioneer Chairman of OMPADEC, the late Pa Albert Korubo Horsfall. He described the late elder statesman as a foundational figure whose leadership at OMPADEC paved the way for modern development interventions across the Niger Delta.

He said the passing of Pa Horsfall is a profound loss not only to his immediate family and the Kalabari Kingdom but to the entire Niger Delta region.

In his response, the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, thanked the NDDC delegation for honouring the late Pa Albert Korubo Horsfall and welcomed the commission’s commitment to safeguarding the kingdom’s historic landmarks.

The statement was signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, NDDC, on November 2, 2026.