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Tag: NDDC

  • NDDC: Who is afraid of Nunieh?

    NDDC: Who is afraid of Nunieh?

    By David Onmeje

    There is a new campaign in town, and it is hinged on bringing down a high profile target at all costs. The strategy is that if the target is not brought down, there would indeed be trouble, and the consequences might be severe.

    I have watched closely as the events are unfolding, and I dare say that this campaign, if successful, would be a great disservice to the deprived people of the Niger-Delta region. And if unsuccessful, it would be a great victory for the people of the Niger-Delta region as a first and to Nigerians. But I am optimistic that this time around, the plot will fail because of the level of awareness in the polity that would defeat mischief. Nigerians are now wiser.

    This is indeed an interesting story in the operations of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that was established since 2000 with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even, and sustainable development of the Niger-Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful. Quite a laudable objective. But the irony is that over the years, these objectives have been implemented upside down.

    The irony is that some supposed leaders and advocates for the development of the Niger-Delta region are those that have turned this interventionist agency into their fiefdom where they continue to exploit the people of the Niger-Delta region with reckless abandon.

    I dare say the problem of the Niger-Delta region is localized. I say this for the fact that with the revelation coming out from the operations of the agency, one would be tempted to state that the principal actors would go any length to ensure that they cover their tracks, not minding whose ox is gored.

    This brings me to the vicious campaign launched against the person of the head of the interim management committee of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, Dr. Yimebe Joy Nunieh, for daring the cartel that once held the NDDC to the jugular. She has dared their gods to ask questions on accountability and transparency in the operations of the commission.

    To put in simple terms, I must add that I saw this coming, especially when the presidency decided to undertake a forensic audit of the operations of the commission. I knew heads would roll, and the consequences would be too much for some of them who have carried on like apostles for the emancipation of the Niger-Delta people, while in truth, they are the ones behind the deprivation of the people in the region.

    As a first, I salute the courage of Dr. Yimebe Joy Nunieh for making herself available for this daunting task that many men will take to their heels if given to execute. I salute her for taking this bold step in cleaning the Augean stable in the Niger-Delta Development Commission, for it takes an enviable level of courage to be able to do such in an environment where hawks manifest in traditional rulers, community leaders, political leaders as well as youths have all been slicing the cow with sharp and in some instances double-edged swords.

    If this is not the case, how would one possibly explain a situation where a monthly payment of N1 billion is made to a consultant that collects money from international oil companies (IOCs), on its behalf. How can an individual have 87 companies waiting for payment? What about a situation where a sitting senator from the region is handling 300 of the commissions’ projects and 120 of the contracts fully paid for? What about the fact that the NDDC owes contractors to the tune of N3 trillion?

    Wonders shall indeed never end. You will agree with me that with all of these revelations, we should not expect that these individuals would not seek the head of the interim management committee chairperson of the commission and, if possible, see to the fact that she is ousted from office by all means necessary.

    One thing stands sure, which is the fact that with Dr. Yimebe Joy Nunieh as the head of the NDDC, heads would indeed roll, and sanity would return to the commission. What is also certain is the fact that these folks would castigate, intimidate, blackmail and slander her person to cover their tracks. And the recent news making the rounds as regards her not been qualified to lead the agency is one of such examples.

    Make no mistakes; this is just the tip of the iceberg because the country would be awash with more mischievous slander against her person all in an attempt to make her lose focus and backtrack on some of the actions that she has embarked on in an attempt to clean up the mess in the agency.

    In my opinion, those calling for her sack for failing to possess the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate are the most ignorant set of people I have come across because what they are alleging is not true, but a figment of the imagination. This is aside from the fact that every discerning mind knows that the campaign is not a credible one, but one borne out of malicious intent aimed at defaming her character.

    I dare say that they have failed in this attempt this time around because the forensic audit would go on, and those that have stolen from the commonwealth of the people would be made to atone for their sins. This much I know and this much I believe because as it stands, it is no longer business as usual since Dr. Yimebe Joy Nunieh came on board as the acting Managing Director of the NDDC.
    I salute her courage and encourage her not to be distracted by the antics of the desperate ones whose hands have been soiled with their nefarious activities. If I am not sure of anything, one thing I am sure of is the fact that this campaign of calumny against this apostle of transparency at the NDDC shall indeed fail.

    Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom

  • Massive looting left NDDC in serious debt-Akpabio

    Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio has credited the high-level of indebtedness of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to massive looting of the agency under previous administrations.

    Senator Akpabio noted that those who were saddled with the responsibility of managing NDDC over the years had used it as a cash cow in the past.

    According to the minister, the commission, which was created to meet the critical amenities’ needs of the people and communities in the region, had been hijacked by politicians and used to service their electoral funding needs.

    He said the real needs of the people had been abandoned by those who ‘captured’ the commission in the past, spend funds on projects he described as ‘useless projects’, which have no real bearing on everyday lives of the people of the region.

    The minister said: “I always say that he who works in the pulpit can eat from the pulpit, but not to steal the pulpit and what had happened in the past was that people go there and steal the pulpit. When you steal the pulpit, the next manager or preacher has nothing to preach from and that’s how you hear about the indebtedness of the NDDC and all that because at any point people just go there, amass wealth, either for electoral purposes or for personal use and the place is abandoned.

    “The poverty in the area, the ecological problems, the environmental hazards, the disconnect between the NDDC and the people of the region, all these things collectively, your heart will be bleed when you see what is going on. Billions, like N200, N300 billions are spent on useless programmes of desilting of drainages or doing programmes for widows and widowers, okada riders and all that.

    “Then, you’ll see that a place where they could have intervened like roads connecting two regions, like the Sapele/Warri Road, Benin Road or places like Bayelsa where in Elebele a bridge collapsed and then, the people have no drinking water. Then, go to Ogoniland, because of soil pollution, there’s no drinking water and nobody thought of a creative way of providing clean and potable water for the people.

    “People are suffering from cancer and other diseases and no good hospital that one could say was built by the NDDC, equipped for the purposes of a modern day 21st century hospital that people could go and have succor.”

    “Collectively, those things were the things that made me, when I was a governor, to ignore NDDC. Even the quality of works they call roads, within the first rainy season the roads are washed away. It’s years in year out and for me, because I have the experience and I was able to perform as a governor for eight years.

    “Without being boastful, the roads I did between 2007, 2008 don’t have potholes till today, eleven, twelve years after. So today I can say I am in the right place to be able to know the difference between good governance and bad governance.”

     

  • Massive looting left NDDC in serious debt – Akpabio

    Massive looting left NDDC in serious debt – Akpabio

    NIGER DELTA Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio has attributed the high-level of indebtedness of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to massive looting of the agency under previous administrations.

    Senator Akpabio told newsmen in Abuja that those who were saddled with the responsibility of managing NDDC over the years had used it as a cash cow in the past.

    According to the minister, the commission, which was created to meet the critical amenities’ needs of the people and communities in the region, had been hijacked by politicians and used to service their electoral funding needs.

    He said the real needs of the people had been abandoned by those who ‘captured’ the commission in the past, spend funds on projects he described as ‘useless projects’, which have no real bearing on everyday lives of the people of the region.

    The minister said: “I always say that he who works in the pulpit can eat from the pulpit, but not to steal the pulpit and what had happened in the past was that people go there and steal the pulpit. When you steal the pulpit, the next manager or preacher has nothing to preach from and that’s how you hear about the indebtedness of the NDDC and all that because at any point people just go there, amass wealth, either for electoral purposes or for personal use and the place is abandoned.

    “The poverty in the area, the ecological problems, the environmental hazards, the disconnect between the NDDC and the people of the region, all these things collectively, your heart will be bleed when you see what is going on. Billions, like N200, N300 billions are spent on useless programmes of desilting of drainages or doing programmes for widows and widowers, okada riders and all that.

    “Then, you’ll see that a place where they could have intervened like roads connecting two regions, like the Sapele/Warri Road, Benin Road or places like Bayelsa where in Elebele a bridge collapsed and then, the people have no drinking water. Then, go to Ogoniland, because of soil pollution, there’s no drinking water and nobody thought of a creative way of providing clean and potable water for the people.

    “People are suffering from cancer and other diseases and no good hospital that one could say was built by the NDDC, equipped for the purposes of a modern day 21st century hospital that people could go and have succor.”
    “Collectively, those things were the things that made me, when I was a governor, to ignore NDDC. Even the quality of works they call roads, within the first rainy season the roads are washed away. It’s years in year out and for me, because I have the experience and I was able to perform as a governor for eight years.“Without being boastful, the roads I did between 2007, 2008 don’t have potholes till today, eleven, twelve years after. So today I can say I am in the right place to be able to know the difference between good governance and bad governance

  • NDDC audit: Some contractors, banks already making refunds – Akpabio

    Some of those indebted to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are already making moves to redeem their obligations.

    This was revealed on Friday in Abuja by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    The minister who spoke in an interview with The Nation said millions of funds, in naira and hard currencies, had been disclosed by some banks he described as ‘culpable’ in the alleged fleecing of NDDC over the years.

    The Minister also disclosed that the preliminary steps in the forensic audit of the Commission ordered months back by President Muhammadu Buhari had begun, adding that the names of the auditing firms that would carry out the exercise would soon be made public.

    According to him, the auditing process may take as long as four months, noting that the corrupt system that broke the purpose of the Commission down took almost two decades.

    He, however, observed that the cleansing process of the Commission by the administration would become one of President Buhari’s greatest legacies.

    “I believe, from Mr. President’s perspective, when the decision is taken, the law will take its course. I believe some of them will be made to refund. As I speak now, some have come forward that they have money from the NDDC and that they did not, because of regime change, utilize the money.

    “Some have come to say they were given billions to supply things that they could not supply for one reason or the other, that the moneys are stuck in the banks. We have also found some banks that are culpable because they also withheld moneys of the NDDC”, he said.

    Speaking on culpability of some banks in the alleged rot at the Commission, Akpabio said some banks, who had become jittery over the impending scrutiny of finances of the interventionist agency, had come forward to make disclosures on some funds with them.

    “I know of a bank that came to say they have $70 million from 2006, one also came to say N170 million had been abandoned, I’ve forgotten in which administrations in the last 11 years, they said they are ready to refund. I said no problem, just hang on, we’ll sort all these out when the forensic comes in to let us know all the recoverable and all that.

    “But all those who have contracts and have actually collected money, go back to site, that’s what we have said. Amazingly, some are doing solar powered lights, boreholes everywhere, like in Delta state, I know of a village where right now about five streets are being done and we have not given out a single contract because we don’t have a budget for 2019, they concentrate mostly on personnel cost, they cannot go and spend anything on 2019 or do any new project now until after the budget has been passed.

    “The rotten system that made this sanitisation process needful took almost 19 years to occur, so we cannot do everything in a month, but the process is on and I assure you in the next three to four months you will see the result and you will be very impressed and the region will be glad for it.

    “That will be one of the greatest legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari; being able to clean the Niger Delta Development Commission and being able to refocus it to achieve much for the people of the Niger Delta. History will remember him positively,” he said.

  • NDDC boss: Let’s chart new course for Niger Delta

    NDDC boss: Let’s chart new course for Niger Delta

    Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Joi Nunieh, yesterday said that the interim management committee (IMC) of the commission would bring all stakeholders, including youths, on board to chart a new course for the Niger Delta region.

    Nunieh, who spoke during an interactive session with youth leaders in the region in Port Harcourt, said it was important to aggregate the views of major groups to give impetus to the development programmes being driven by the commission. Present at the meeting were youth leaders, led by the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr Pereotubo Oweilaemi; IYC Chairman, Eastern Zone, Mr. Sammy George; representatives from Isoko, Ogoni, Ikwerre, among others.

    The NDDC chief executive officer underlined the need to have a sense of direction to help quicken the pace of development in the oil-rich region. In this vein, Nunieh said: “We are promoting the ‘Charity Begins at Home’ programme, meant to inspire companies and individuals to give back to their communities.

    “We want companies to buy into the programme and adopt different communities for the provision of infrastructure. For instance, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) has responded to the campaign and is now fixing the failed sections of the Akpajo-Onne axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.” Nunieh said that henceforth, NDDC contractors would be required to adopt communities where they would execute a project such as water, electricity or health facility.

    She added: “What we are trying to do with this programme is to mobilise people to give back to our communities.”

    The acting managing director urged Niger Delta stakeholders to support the efforts of the Federal Government to clean up all polluted environment in the region, noting that; “We must realise that the essence of the Niger Delta struggle is more for environmental security.”

    She said NDDC would encourage the various communities to keep their villages and beaches clean and appealed for all hands to be on deck. According to her, “all of us have roles to play to make our region safe, clean and economically viable.”

    Nunieh observed that oil companies operating in the Niger Delta had through their exploration and exploitation activities degraded the environment.

    To make matters worse, she said: “Our youths who are engaged in illegal refining of crude oil, have joined in this despoliation by polluting the environment with soot. “The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report shows that one in eight persons from Ogoni will die of cancer. This is frightening and we must do something now to correct the problems.”

  • Pay your debts with 2019 budget proposals, Reps tell NDDC

    The House of Representatives has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to settle all it’s liabilities with its 2019 budget proposals.
    This disclosure was revealed when the NDDC Interim management led by the Acting Managing Director presented the Commission’s 2019 budget before the House Committee on NDDC on Tuesday.
    Recall that, the House had resolved that, it will only consider its 2019 budget for implementation and later act on its 2020 budget proposal.
    Speaking, Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tuni-Ojo (APC, Ondo) lamented that, the Committee has failed to implement its 2019 budget due to widespread infractions and untoward practices by its former management.
    He said that, although it was no fault of the new management, but the House is concerned with the rot in the Commission which has deprived the people of Niger Delta of the needed development.
    He said that, as part of the measures to implement the recommendations made by the committee on the NDDC 2019 budget, the Commission must present the list of all contractors being owed.
    Tunji-Ojo however disclosed that, payment to claims would only be made after a through verification and approval of the committee.
    The chairman of the committee also said that, the NDDC must also recover the over N1 trillion it is being owed by various entities to help it offset the liabilities.
    He informed the management that, the committee will present the findings of the public hearing to the House.
    He added that, when approved by the House, all ongoing projects in the NNDC 2019 budget will be rolled over to the Commission’s 2020 budget which will be considered after the approval of its 2019 budget.
    The Committee chairman lamented that, due to the mess in the NDDC, the commission was 14 months behind schedule in its 2019 budget implementation which he said was a huge drawback.
    In her presentation to the committee,the Acting NDDC Managing Director, Mrs Osato Iyasere Arenyeka disclosed that, N346,513,046,220 was proposed by the NDDC as 2019 budget based on assumption of improved revenue inflow.
    She however disclosed that, as at December 2018, the aggregate revenue inflow was N291.47 billion.
    “The Overhead expenditure (Personnel, Recurrent and Internal Capital) elapses December 31st similarly, (N35.07bn) N35,079,320,850 representing 99.8% was spent. The Capital expenditure (Development Project) elapsed July 31st 2019 while (N255.09bn) N255,096,800,000 representing 82% was spent during the review year. The Commission recorded 83% on its performance for 2018”.
    Shedding more light on the findings about infractions in the NDDC, the Acting MD informed that, the new management has uncovered bogus claims on projects by various contractors.
    Mrs Ayenreka noted that, many fake IOCs were discovered by the Commission in the course of its investigations adding that many contracts were duplicated through state governments, NDDC, FERMA and other agencies.
    She said that many contractors have also been issued certificates for projects not executed saying that, the Commission will fish out persons that authorised or issued the certificates.
    She said that, the NDDC has resolved to suspend all emergency contracts awarded by the NDDC as most of them did not follow the laid down procedures and due process.
    She added that, reforms to involve the people of the region to take ownership of the projects and ensure their proper execution is underway as people are being encouraged to go back home to invest and be involved in the development of the region.
    According to her, the move was to aligned with President Muhammadu Buhari’s reforms to ensure transparency in the activities of the NDDC to serve the people of the Niger Delta region.
    Speaking after the budget presentation by the Acting NDDC MD, Chairman of the committee advised the Commission to lower its revenue projection in its proppsed 2020 budget to make it realistic.
    He also advised against the suspension of all emergency projects as according to him, the emergency projects serve as the quickest lifeline to the people of the Niger Delta that meets their immediate infrastructural and other needs.
  • NDDC: Interim management committee unknown to law – David Ekuetafia

    NDDC: Interim management committee unknown to law – David Ekuetafia

    By David Ekuetafia Esq.

    In recent weeks, there has been a rash of misconception being peddled in both the print and electronic media about what next steps Mr President needs to take on matters relating to the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission.

    Most of these misconceptions are deliberate falsehood designed mainly to obfuscate the issues and confuse the non legal minds. Others are simply orchestrated to cover up and protect selfish individual or clannish interests without reference or empirical proof of facts.

    In a number of cases, the positions have been very incorrect and misleading.

    This was the case of what we read from the Punch Newspaper of Saturday 30th of November, 2019 and other social media platforms credited to the Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta, Rep Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who was quoted as saying that he saw nothing wrong with the 3-man interim management committee of Senator Akpabio. This is against a 15 members Governing Board as provided for in section 10(a) of the NDDC Act 2000. Tunji-Ojo said he was willing to welcome the 3 members of the illegal interim management committee to come and represent NDDC to defend the 2019 and 2020 NDDC Appropriation Estimates submitted last week by Mr President to both Chambers of the National Assembly.

    As if his position is not misleading enough, he went further to misinform his audience and members of the public that the provisions of section 171 of the Nigerian Constitution legalize the interim management committee, an assertion that is most contrary to the true meaning of that section of the Constitution.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the bodies or agencies affected by the provisions of section 171 of the Constitution neither relate to nor include the NDDC.

    In order to set the record straight and for a better understanding by stakeholders and members of the general public, the section of the Constitution under reference is hereby reproduced as follows: 171 –
    (1) “Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall vest in the President.

    (2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely –
    (a) Secretary to the Government of the Federation;
    (b) Head of the Service of the Federation;
    (c) Ambassador, High Commissioner or other Principal Representative of Nigeria abroad;
    (d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation howsoever designated; and
    (e) any office on the personal staff of the President…”

    Contrary to the statement credited to the House Committee Chairman, Section 171 does not relate to the NDDC.

    To further compound and exhibit his lack of deep knowledge of the NDDC Act (even as a member of the National Assembly), and the Nigerian Constitution, he was quoted as saying that the provisions of the NDDC Act are inconsistent with those of the Constitution. This is most unfortunate. There is no section of the NDDC Act that conflicts any constitutional provisions at all.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that some other individuals are being openly sponsored on live telecast particularly one Arc Nya Etok Ezekiel who appeared on AIT live show on Saturday night on November 30, 2019. He also erroneously hinged his defence of the illegal interim management committee on the same provisions of Section 171 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999.

    He equally misinformed his audience and listeners that the section gives Mr President the powers to appoint an Interim Management Committee for the NDDC simultaneously with his appointment of a new Board for the Commission. This assertion is most incorrect, false and misleading as there is no such provisions in both legal instruments.

    Let it be also noted that section 171 of the Nigerian Constitution came into force on May 29, 1999 even before the conception and eventual birth of the Niger Delta Development Commission in the year 2001. This implies that its provisions were not framed in anticipation of NDDC or any other body and their operations which are not referred to in the section under reference.

    Like the provisions of sections 2(2)(a) and 5(3) of the NDDC Act 2000 that requires Senate confirmation of members of the Commission, subsection (4) of section 171 of the Nigerian Constitution equally states that “An appointment to the office of Ambassador, High Commissioner, or other Principal Representative of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

    The combined effects of the above provisions clearly confirm the illegality of the 3-man contraption which has been put in place against public outcry and contrary to every good will and notwithstanding the promptness and dispatch with which the Senate treated Mr President’s nominees by properly stamping them with the seal of legitimacy in accordance with the NDDC Act 2000.

    The NDDC Act 2000 under section 2(1) states that ” There is hereby established for the Commission a governing Board which shall consists of a Chairman, a Managing Director, 2 Executive Directors, one board member each from the 9 oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers, ………………”

    By this provision and others, the NDDC Act prohibits the 3-man interim management committee from assuming the responsibility to take over the functions and powers of the Commission.

    Let it be noted by all Nigerians and Niger Delta stakeholders that, the fact that Mr. President, a few days ago, has invoked his right and power under section 18(1) of the NDDC Act 2000, by presenting budget estimates for the Commission in respect of 2019 and 2020 to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, does not give any legitimacy to the Dr Joy Nunieh led interim management committee. The Interim Management Committee is not the appropriate authority of the Commission to appear before any relevant committee of the National Assembly to defend such budget proposals.

    For a deeper and proper understanding of the provisions of the NDDC Act and the intentions of members of the National Assembly that worked on its bill and passed it even through a two-third majority vitoe (a few of whom are still present in this 9th National Assembly), it would be advisable for the leadership of the House to make copies of the Act available to all members for better understanding of its content and in appreciation of the efforts of their predecessors.

    However, one must commend the leadership of the Senate for consistently encouraging and appealing to the executive to do the needful by inaugurating the Board in order to nip in the bud further controversy.

    In conclusion, I observe with dismay different statements and inferences credited to some respected members of the green chambers of National Assembly insinuating their readiness to work with the illegal interim management committee with regard to the NDDC budget proposals presented by Mr President instead of standing with the Senate in defence of an Act duly passed by the Parliament which impartiality and integrity they all swore to protect on June 11, 2019 when Mr President proclaimed the 9th National Assembly.

    In my view, allying with the position of the Senate seems a better and proper option for the Representatives instead of attempting to dance to discordant tunes of some selfish political gladiators who appear to be desperate and determined to cover some old footprints.

    No matter the interest, let every elected lawmaker remain a lawmaker and every political appointee remain an appointee. By this is meant to defend, maintain and protect your institution while the other does same to his or hers own institutions too.

  • Corrupt Nigerians against NDDC probe – Akpabio

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission will expose those who are milking Nigeria dry through the commission.

    Akpabio, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, faulted those oppose to the audit order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying they were those who might have benefited from the corruption in the system.

    Akpabio said, “If you were to be a Nigerian who have benefited from the NDDC in the last 10 years and you did not carry out the jobs but you were able to build houses, you will be happy that the NDDC has lived up to its expectation because your pocket has moved forward.”

  • Ijaw youths laud Buhari’s decision to probe NDDC

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision to audit the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka, described the move by the President as a show of leadership and commitment to the development of the region.

    The group called on stakeholders to support the transfer of supervisory powers of the NDDC from the Presidency to the Niger Delta Ministry to reduce the level of harassment and political interference especially from National Assembly members and other political gladiators that had stifled the operations of the commission.

    Dasimaka said: “We support this decision of Mr President to audit the activities of the NDDC from 2001 to date with a view at ensuring that we see concrete results on the ground for the resources allocated to it rather than our commonwealth becoming an instrument of patronage that enriches a few while the generality of our people wallow in abject poverty.

    “Already N80.88 billion has been proposed in the 2020 Budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Although this amount is still not commensurate with the contributions of the Niger Delta to the national wealth and despite the high cost of executing projects in the region which the President rightly pointed out, it would be tragic for these funds to be spent without improvements in the region.

    “We would like to use this medium to call on the President to use his good offices to ensure that the provisions of the NDDC Act is followed in the composition of the Management Board of the Commission.

    ” For instance Bayelsa State is supposed to produce the next Managing Director of the Commission and since the president said he tries to “follow the Act setting up these institutions especially the NDDC”, we urge him to correct the legal flaws in the composition of the Board earlier announced.”

  • Senate summons NDDC chief over N65b contract

    The Senate on Thursday directed the Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Enyia Akwagaga, to appear before it next Tuesday.

    Senate Committee on Public Accounts Chairman Matthew Urhoghide gave the directive following Akwagaga’s absence at a hearing on the award of N65 billion contracts.

    The contracts were awarded between 2017 and this year for clearing water hyacinth and desilting rivers in the region.

    Urhoghide said the Committee was aware that N2.5 billion was allocated for the contract, and that N65 billion has allegedly been spent so far.

    He said that if the information is proven, it would mean that the budget for the contract has been exceeded.

    Urhoghide said: “We want to ascertain if due processes were followed in the award of these contracts, particularly the information that we have at our disposal that they exceeded budget limits.

    “What we know is that N2.5 billion was budgeted for the desilting and clearing of water hyacinths. We heard that the Commission has spent over N 65billion. This committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there are transparency, accountability and economy, that is, there is value for money.

    “Once we can ascertain that the Commission has done it well, of course, they are not going to have any problem. If not, we will recommend appropriate sanctions.”

    The Committee also mandated the NDDC boss to forward all relevant information about the contracts to it on or before next Monday.

    The required information includes the project title, contractors’ names and addresses, contract location, contract sum, date of award, the amount paid to date and the actual date of completion.

    The committee also demanded the original copy of all the newspaper advertisements for the contract, technical bids for the job by each of the bidders, financial bids submitted by each of the bidders, deduction of taxes, and evidence of remittances.

    NDDC Director of Special Duties, Nosakhare Agbongiasede, said Akwagaga could not honour the invitation because she was indisposed.

    “She is sorry for her inability to come,” Agbongiasede said.