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Tag: NDDC

  • Buhari orders probe of NDDC activities from 2001

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2001 to 2019.

    The president gave the directive when he received governors of the states in the Niger Delta area, led by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The president said the directive had become imperative in view of the persistent criticisms of the operations of the commission.

    According to him, what is presently on ground in the Niger Delta region does not justify the huge resources that have been made available to the commission.

    He said: “I try to follow the Act setting up these institutions, especially the NDDC.

    “With the amount of money that the Federal Government has religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground; those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues.

    “The projects said to have been done must be verifiable. You just cannot say you spent so much billions and when the place is visited, one cannot see the structures that have been done.

    “The consultants must also prove that they are competent,’’ he said.

    Buhari admitted that developing the Niger Delta area required enormous resources compared to other parts of the country with firmer lands.

    “I am very much aware, with my experience, that projects in your area are very expensive; that is why if any job is given, we must make sure that the company is competent and has the capacity to do it well, with experienced consultants,” he added.

    The president, however, said that he would wait for the report of the audit before deciding on the next line of action regarding the commission.

    Gov. Dickson had earlier expressed the disappointment of other governors with the operations of the NDDC.

    According to him, the commission’s operations had been characterised by poor choice of projects, shoddy handling, uncompleted jobs and lack of required support for the efforts of the states and local governments in its areas of coverage.

    He, therefore, called for the repositioning of the commission in order to achieve the objectives for which it was set up.

  • Akpabio orders suspension of recruitment exercise at NDDC

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has ordered an immediate suspension of recruitment into the employment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Minister, Mr Anietie Ekong in Abuja on Friday night.

    According to the statement, the new directive also requested the management of the Commission to compile and furnish the Minister with a detailed report on any employment exercise being undertaken within three days.

    It explained that the Minister’s decision was necessitated to guarantee due process as such action by the Commission ought to be evaluated by the Ministry in consultation with the committees of the National Assembly on the NDDC.

    “The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has directed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), suspends forthwith any employment exercise into the Commission.

    “The Minister also directed the suspension of handing over of appointment letters, documentation and all other processes connected to employment into the Commission.

    “Senator Akpabio gave this directive in a letter issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack to the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Akwagaga Enyia.

    “According to the Ministerial directive, the Commission’s pay roll should not accommodate any new employees and should revert to the status quo as at August 31, 2019, while he should be furnished within three days with a detailed report of any employment exercise being undertaken by the Commission.

    “The letter said the suspension exercise is to subsist until a due process evaluation of the purported exercise is carried out by the Ministry in consultation with the two NDDC Committees of the National Assembly and sought prompt action of the Acting Managing Director on the matter”, the statement said.

  • Obaseki demands probe of N20bn NDDC Emergency Fund expended in Edo

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called for a probe into the utilisation of the N20 billion emergency funds allegedly expended on projects in the state in the last six months, by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This is even as he disclosed that the State Government would explore the option of suing contractors handling the Commission’s projects for allegedly delivering sub-standard projects, which he said caused flooding in parts of the state.

    Obaseki said this while receiving the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on abandoned NDDC projects in the State.

    He noted that the State Government will stop NDDC contractors from executing sub-standard projects, adding that there is a need for synergy between the State Government and NDDC in delivering quality projects.

    “This kind of action is embarrassing to our administration and causing us political problems as our citizens are confused about the roads we are constructing and the sub-standard roads executed by NDDC contractors.

    “I have instructed the State’s Solicitor-General to begin the process to take legal action against NDDC contractors, who execute sub-standard work in the State, particularly the contractor who handled the project on Apostolic Street, off Sokponba Road, which led to flooding in the area. We will blacklist them.

    “I am surprised that the NDDC management is here as I invited them months ago when I received complaints about the quality of work done by their contractors, but they ignored the invite. There is no need having NDDC in the State when they have total disregard for the State Government,” he said.

    According to the Governor, the interim management of the NDDC claimed that N256 billion was spent on emergency project work, out of which N20 billion was spent in Edo State in the last six months.

    “A year ago, barely 10 per cent of the NDDC budget for Edo State was implemented. The immediate past interim management team of the NDDC needs to come and show us how they spent N20 billion in the State.

    “Beyond what the House Committee is doing, there must be a judicial enquiry into the activities of the NDDC. People must go to jail for their corrupt acts. The 13 per cent derivation fund collected from oil-producing communities that was supposed to be used for the development of the region has not been spent by NDDC.

    “We have registered our displeasure on NDDC projects in Edo State and contest the claims of their spending N20 billion in the State for emergency work. We signed a tripartite agreement with NDDC. They were supposed to commit 40 per cent while the State provides 60 per cent. We opened an account but they didn’t remit one kobo into it,” he noted.

    Earlier, the leader of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committees on NDDC abandoned projects in Edo State, Hon. Sergius Ogun, said they were in the State to investigate abandoned NDDC projects.

    Ogun said the standing committee that will take over from the Ad-Hoc committee will be announced soon.

    “This is pro-active. That was why the Ad-Hoc committee was set up, not waiting for the standing committee to be inaugurated.”

    On his part, the Director, Edo State office of the NDDC, Mr. Gbubemi Ogor, said the Commission agreed with the position of the Governor on NDDC projects in the State.

    He said: “We have agreed to review a lot of our projects in Edo State. The Governor has expressed his dissatisfaction on our projects and we have taken his words to heart and have set up a committee. We will be meeting with the Commissioner of lnfrastructure next week on the issues.”

  • Niger Delta Crisis: Contractors threaten to burn down NDDC facilities over N2.6M debt

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria may be in for another round of crisis as contractors to the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC has threatened to vandalize all the facilities installed by it in the region unless they are paid.
    At the resumed investigative hearing of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on NDDC Abandoned Projects on Wednesday, the Chairman Niger Delta Construction Consortium Chief Jasper Jumbo threatened that he will burn down every single facility installed by the NDDC until a debt of N2.6 million owed him is paid.
    The septuagenarian a contractor and stakeholder in a presentation to the Committee expressed disappointment at the injustices and mismanagement of resources on the part of NDDC management saying that they ‘ve been unfair to the region in term of infrastructure.
    He told the Committee that he has been a contractor of NDDC right form the days of OMPADEC and added that the agency has been owing him N2. 6 million contract debt on a job that it had issued him certificate of completion for over six years.
    He also said that he has evidence to nail a former Executive Director of Finance of the agency who demands 10% of any contract sum from any contractor that bidded for a job in the commission.
    Chairman of the Committee Hon. Ossai.Nicholas Osai had earlier queried the Acting Managing Director Dr. Enyia Akwagaga and other officials of the agency for their involvement in a N61.4 billion contract awarded by it without completion.
    The lawmaker said that a report from the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to the Committee reveal that N70.4 billion was paid to 1723 contractors by the agency and they abandoned the projects.
    The Committee helsman later summoned all the commission’s past Managing Directors notably Nsima Ekere and Timi Alaibe and Executive Directors of Finance of the agency to appear before the Committee on Friday
    He said that available documents submitted to the committee had shown that some people still sign contracts after leaving office.

  • Abandoned projects: Again, NDDC MD, Directors Shun Reps Invitation

    By Ezeike Jonas, Abuja
    The Chairman House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Hon Osai Nicholas Osai on Thursday revealed that the Acting Managing Director of the agency Prof. Nelson Braimbriaifa and other directors of the agency had for the third time failed to attend the investigative hearing on all abandoned NDDC projects by the Committee.
    Osai who said this at a press briefing of the Ad-hoc Committee at the House Press Corps added that they have extended invitations to the NDDC officials three times and they failed to appear in all of them.
    He submitted that the House view this non-appearance by the NDDC officials as a breach, an obstruction and a slap on the powers of the House to investigate any matter within its legislative purview.
    He however informed that the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Mr Godwin Emefiele and other directors of the apex bank who were summoned alongside the NDDC officials had made appearance at the investigative hearing.
    He informed that the CBN team had sent in their papers requested by the Committee for scrutiny and the Committee will work on them and make appropriate recommendation to the House based on its findings
    Speaking further on what the Committee will do to ensure compliance, he said that they will extend another invitation to the NDDC helsman and other directors to appear before the Committee on Monday September 23, 2019 unfailing.
    He added that failure on the the part of the invited officials to appear before the Committee, they will immediately issue a bench warrant of arrest to them based on the powers confered on the House in Sect 88 of the 1999 Constitution.
  • Reps summon Emefiele, NDDC boss, others over N2trn abandoned projects in Niger Delta states

    Reps summon Emefiele, NDDC boss, others over N2trn abandoned projects in Niger Delta states

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
    The House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee probing over N2 trillion sum worth abandoned projects of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since 2000 till date has summoned the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, acting chairman, NDDC and its Directors to appear before it on Tuesday next week.
    Also invited are former minister of Niger Delta and Managing Director of NDDC.
    The ad-hoc committee chaired by Mr. Nicholas Ossai issued the directives on Tuesday during the one day public hearing which entails abandoned projects in the NDDC from 2000 till date, the cost of award, period of award, the state of completion and constraints as it affects NDDC.
    Hon. Ossai said the directive was due to the neglect of invite issued to the aforementioned by the ad-hoc committee.
    According to him, we’ll not tolerate this. The NDDC is not above the National Assembly.
    “Section 89 of the constitution states that the National Assembly can procure information from any person. And since they refuse to appear, we will invoke sub section 1 (A,B &C) of the country’s constitution which entails summoning of persons involved in the probe” said Mr. Ossai.
    Shortly after declaring opened the hearing by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Buba raised a point of order, notifying the panel of the absence of “critical stakeholders who information are needed from”. He expressed worries that the committee could do little or nothing without them.
    Ossai in response explained that a communication sent in by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Niger Delta, had in similar way blamed their inability to provide the committee with the requested information on failure of the Commission, to fully brief the ministry yet.
    In his opening remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason, said while the investigation was not intended to haunt anybody, “the House will frontally face any infraction found in the course of the investigation”.
    On his part while declaring open the hearing, chairman of the committee, Ossai said the committee would be guided by the principle of fair hearing, adding that abandoned projects have remained great drain pipes to governs,not resources, “due to inflation of prices, when eventually they are revisited, but we will make sure there is value for money”.
    At the interactive session, the Office of the Auditor General revealed that the sum of N61.4billion was collected by the companies involved as mobilization fee for the project from 2000-2015 that was later abandoned.
    Stakeholder from Aiyetoro community, Ondo State, Gbenga Edema while lamenting the abandonment of some major projects in the area said N6.6billion contract was revoked without collecting of any money from the awarded company.
    Other stakeholders like the Commissioner of Works, Akwa Ibom State, Ephraim Inyang-Eyem and Ogua- Olusan of Warri, Brown Mene worried that despite the huge resources injected into the commission the entire region has been littered with abandoned and substandard projects, with state governments left to bear the burden of reconstruction which include roads, bridges, drainages among others.
    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in the year 2000 to ameliorate the suffering of the people of the Niger delta over the long years of crude oil exploration and its attendant consequences of environmental degradation.
  • NDDC owes over N2 trn – Senator Akpabio

    NDDC owes over N2 trn – Senator Akpabio

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has stressed the need for redirecting the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) affairs, saying that the commission has over N2 trillion debt to settle.

    Akpabio stated this at a meeting with the management team of NDDC on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the commission had not performed well in its main responsibility, which was the development of the Niger Delta region.

    The minister said that the impact of the commission on the entire region would have been more, but for some factors such as personal interest and undue interference, among others.

    He stressed the need for collaboration between the ministry and the commission to move the region to a higher level.

    “We will look into the budgetary allocation and see how it can be improved upon because the success of any organisation starts from budgeting.

    “We want to redirect the budgeting procedure of the commission so that we can aim at the ongoing projects, that is, those that are nearing completion but which have not been completed due to lack of human will,” he said.

    According to him, there are too many uncompleted projects across the Niger Delta region due to lack of proper coordination, adding “we will not allow that any longer.

    “We are going to focus on the key ones that are on ground for us to complete between now and next year and also start some things that can create employment opportunities,” he said.

    Akpabio also said that the East-West Road was one of the major priorities of his administration, pledging to work very hard to ensure the development of the region.

    Dr Akwagaga Enyia, the Director overseeing the NDDC, expressed the commission’s readiness to cooperate with the ministers to ensure development of the region, while appreciating them for such a meeting.

    Earlier, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, pledged the commitment members of staff to the actualisation of the vision and mandate of the ministers.

    “We will be an effective and efficient workforce, working with you to formulate and execute best policies, programmes and projects that will address the challenges in the Niger Delta region.

    “These include, but not limited to, infrastructural development, environmental degradation, poverty alleviation, entrepreneurship, job creation, unemployment and security, among others,” Walson-Jack said.

  • Alleged N3.6bn fraud: Court fixes July 3 for trial of ex-NDDC boss

    Alleged N3.6bn fraud: Court fixes July 3 for trial of ex-NDDC boss

    The Federal High Court in Lagos, fixed July 3, for the continuation in the trial of a former Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Tuoyo Omatsuli.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Omatsuli alongside one Francis Momoh, and two companies: Don Parker Properties Ltd, and Building Associates Ltd to court on charges bordering on N3.6 billion fraud.

    The EFCC charged the defendants on Nov. 28, 2018, with 45 counts bordering on corruption, gratification, fraud and money laundering.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    At the last adjourned date in April, the prosecutor, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, called his third witness, Mr Soridei Akene, a staff of Heritage Bank Plc to testify in the matter.

    In his evidence, the witness said he worked with Heritage Bank for three and half years, and had been in the banking sector for 16 years.

    He told the court that sometime in 2016, 2017 and 2018, he received requests from the commission to produce account opening documents and statements of account of some companies which he obliged them.

    He confirmed his response to the commission as one of those companies, and the court had admitted and marked them as exhibits ETO3, ETO4, ETO5, ETO6, and ETO 7.

    The witness further chronicled inflows and disbursements of funds in the said accounts, while the court had adjourned for continuations of trial.

    According to the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between August 2014 and September 2015.

    The first defendant was said to have procured Momoh and Building Associates to utilise N3.6 billion paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd into an account operated by fourth accused.

    The prosecution alleged that they ought to have known that the said sums, formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activities which include corruption and gratification.

    The offence, the EFCC said, contravened the provisions of sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(3) and 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.

  • FG begins refund of N1.3trn owed NDDC

    The Federal Government has begun the refund of over N1.3 trillion owed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since inception.

    Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, Acting Managing Director of the commission, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ibitoye Abosede, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    Brambaifa spoke during his inaugural meeting of the new management of the commission, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari had love for the Niger Delta region.

    He said that “The new management team is response to the growing unhappiness in the region over government’s commitment to developing the region and improving the living conditions of the people.

    “The Federal Government has indeed begun refunding over N1.3 trillion owed the commission since inception.

    “The Niger Delta had suffered enough and President Buhari recognised this and has taken prompt action to redress the situation and reassure the people on government’s commitment to their welfare’’.

    Brambaifa, whose appointment was announced by Buhari on Friday, said the present administration had ensured the commission’s statutory financial obligations were paid in full.

    “President Buhari also ensured that all other statutory contributors to the funding of NDDC met their obligations.

    “Also, the president also worked to restore peace and security in the region by tackling all grievances of the people.

    “The appointment of the management team is another step in the effort to offer hope to the Niger Delta people and restore their confidence and faith,” he said.

    The NDDC boss said that management would respect and implement the commission’s mandate of ensuring sustainable development of the region.

    He noted that more efforts would be made to ensure a socially stable; economically prosperous; politically peaceful and ecologically regenerative Niger Delta.

    According to him, the task of developing the Niger Delta is too important to be toyed with as well as too compelling to waste time on.

    “Therefore, we urge all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to join hands with members of the new executive management to ensure a smooth transition and contribute to immediate delivery of Mr President’s mandate.

    “We also urge members of staff of NDDC to embrace teamwork. I will change NDDC and take it to the next level,” he assured.

     

  • Buhari sacks NDDC board, appoints acting managing director

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday sacked the governing board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He also approved the appointment Professor Nelson Braimbraifa as an acting Managing Director for the commission.

    The President, following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) resolution, has equally vested the supervisory role of the commission in the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

    Also appointed as Acting Executive Director (Finance and Administration) of NDDC is Chris Amadi, while Samuel Adjogbe, an engineer, becomes acting executive director (projects).

    The appointments take immediate effect, a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said.

    The dissolved board was appointed in July 2016 with Victor Ndoma Egba a former Senate leader as chairman and Nsima U. Ekere, now the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress as managing director/ chief executive officer.

    Other members of that board were Mene Derek (Executive Director Finance And Administration), Adjogbe Samuel (Executive Director Projects), Frank George (Akwa Ibom State Representative), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa (Bayelsa State Representative), Sylvester Nsa (Cross River State Rep.), Ogaga Ofowodo (Delta State Rep.), Uwuilekhue Saturday (Edo State Rep.), Harry Dabibi (Rivers State Rep.) and Bernard Banfa (North Central Rep.)

    The rest were Mohammed Yahaya (North East Rep.), Mustapha Dankadi (North West Rep.), Abdul Kazeem Bayero (Ministry Of Environment Rep.) and Dr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, (Federal Ministry Of Finance Rep.).

    Mr Ndoma-Egba had taken over from Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, also from Cross River State.

    Mr Ewa-Henshaw-led Board was sacked by the federal government on July 16, 2015. That board went to court to challenge the action, arguing that by virtue of sections 2, 3 and 5 of the NDDC Act, they were entitled to four-year unbroken tenure from December 16, 2013, to December 15, 2017.

    The outcome of that case is unknown at this time.

    The NDDC was established in 2000 to facilitate rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.