The Senate has delivered a blow to Anambra State’s aspirations to join the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), rejecting a bill presented by Senator Tony Nwoye.
The bill, aimed at integrating Anambra into the NDDC, faced fierce opposition during its consideration for a second reading on Wednesday.
Senator Nwoye passionately argued that Anambra, as an oil-producing state benefiting from a 13% derivation, deserved inclusion in the NDDC.
In his lead argument, Nwoye was quoted by The Punch as saying, “Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, Anambra as an oil-producing state has been collecting 13 per cent derivation for the oil exploited from her wells by the Federal Government since 2021, and eminently deserves to be included in the operational radius of NDDC.
“Kogi State was also declared as an oil-producing state, but has not been collecting any 13 per cent derivation.”
However, his plea fell on deaf ears as fellow senators shot down his proposition.
Highlighting the criteria for NDDC membership, senators emphasized that mere oil production wasn’t enough, stressing that the commission primarily served states within the Niger Delta region, to which Anambra didn’t belong.
A heated exchange ensued when Senator Jibrin Isah of Kogi East rebuffed Nwoye’s claim, asserting that Kogi also received 13% derivation as an oil-producing state since 2022, thus dismissing any need for Anambra’s inclusion.
“Senator Nwoye, with all due respect, please stop dragging Kogi State into your argument for membership of Anambra State in the NDDC. Kogi State is an oil-producing state and has also been collecting 13 per cent derivation since October 2022,” the Kogi lawmaker said.
Following the heated argument, Senate President Godswill Akpabio weighed in, disputing Nwoye’s arguments and challenging the notion of proximity as a qualifier for NDDC membership.
In the end, the bill faced a resounding defeat, with the Senate dropping it following overwhelming opposition votes, marking a significant setback for Anambra’s bid to join the NDDC.
