The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has suspended its scheduled inauguration of completed projects across the region in honour of the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who passed away on December 11, 2025.
The Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, announced the decision during a condolence visit to Governor Douye Diri and the Ewhrudjakpo family at the Government House in Yenagoa yesterday.
The suspension affects the planned end-of-year commissioning exercise, which was set to begin with the 700-bed President Bola Tinubu Hostel at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma.
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Ogbuku clarified that the commission chose to put all inaugurations on hold out of respect for the state government and the grieving family.
“The NDDC was supposed to start commissioning of projects in closing the year, starting from today, with the inauguration of a 700-bed hostel named after the President at NDU, Amassoma,” Ogbuku stated.
He noted that the partnership between the NDDC and the Bayelsa State Government has been one of the “best relations” under the current administration.Joining the condolence mission, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, delivered a message from Tinubu.
He expressed shock at the sudden passing of the deputy governor, describing him as a man of “proverbs and wisdom” who lived a fulfilled life of service.“For those of us from his senatorial district, we are even more pained by his death… Bayelsa and Nigeria will miss him for his invaluable services,” Lokpobiri added.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by National Chairman Boladei Igali, also visited the governor.
Igali highlighted the unique and harmonious working relationship between Diri and his late deputy, which he noted was “the envy of all Nigeria.”
In his response, Diri expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, specifically thanking Tinubu for his personal phone call and message of sympathy.
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The governor commended the NDDC for its “thoughtfulness” in halting its projects and emphasised the need for unity among political leaders in the state during this period of mourning.
He noted the “brotherly love” shown by leaders across the country, which has provided comfort to the government and the Ewhrudjakpo family.
