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, as part of efforts to preserve the cultural heritage and history of the Niger Delta.
The Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance during a visit to the palace of the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, where he addressed members of the Kalabari Traditional Rulers Council.
Ogbuku led a delegation of NDDC management and staff, alongside former officials of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), to pay their last respects to the late Pa Albert Korubo Horsfall, the pioneer chairman of OMPADEC.
Speaking during the visit, the NDDC managing director said the Commission’s development mandate extended beyond building roads, bridges, and other physical infrastructure to include preserving cultural heritage and historical landmarks.
“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,” he said.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, 2026, by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Ogbuku described the Memorial Hall as a significant landmark that represents the history, traditional heritage and identity of the Kalabari people.
He said the proposed rehabilitation would restore the facility to its former glory and reposition it as a symbol of historical pride for residents and visitors.
Ogbuku also described the death of Horsfall as a major loss to his family, the Kalabari Kingdom and the Niger Delta, noting his contributions to the development of the region’s administrative structure through his pioneering leadership at OMPADEC.
Responding, the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere Princewill, thanked the NDDC delegation for honouring the late elder statesman.
He also welcomed the Commission’s commitment to renovating the Memorial Hall, describing the initiative as an important step towards safeguarding the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
