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Tag: NDDC

  • Tension in Niger Delta over plot against new NDDC boss

    There was tension in the Niger Delta region following moves by a section of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State to force replacement of the newly-appointed acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    It was gathered the appointment of Brambaifa shocked the Bayelsa APC leadership and altered the calculation of the party’s camp loyal to the state leader of APC and former Governor Timipre Sylva.

    The camp was said to have expected Sylva or someone loyal to him to clinch the coveted position in NDDC ahead of the forthcoming general and governorship elections in the state.

    But the camp was said to have been thrown into crisis after the Presidency opted for Brambaifa, whose recommendation reportedly came from the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.

    A member of Sylva’s camp, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the appointment would not stand insisting Brambaifa’s role as the managing director was temporary.

    “We were sure that either Sylva or a candidate he rcommended would be announced as the new boss of the NDDC. We were surprised when Brambaifa was announced. But for us this is one appointment that will not stand. He will surely be replaced,” he said.

    But the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Coalition of Niger Delta Youth Bodies (CNDYB), Ijaw Unity and Peace Committee (IUPC) and ex-militants commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment and urged persons against Braimbaifa to sheathe their swords.

    Speaking at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, the Chairman, IYC Central Zone, Tare Porri, said the new boss of the NDDC, being an Ijaw man, deserved the support of all Ijaw people.

    He urged persons from Bayelsa making moves against the new managing director to desist and mobilise support for him to succeed in his assignment.

    He said: “We have just been told that some persons are not satisfied with his appointment.

    “We want to say that the Ijaw cannot be more blessed than now. God has given us an Ijaw man to head the commission.

    “So, l call on Ijaw leaders to mobilise support for Prof. Brambaifa as the MD. When a man from Akwa Ibom was the MD, the entire state and people of Akwa Ibom mobilised support for him. That should be our own case”.

    Also ex-militants, under the auspices of the Third Phase Ex-Agitators, warned persons planning to protest against the appointment of Brambaifa to desist from it.

    Read Also: I’ll pay Niger Delta more attention – Buhari

    The Chairman of the group, Osaanya B. Osaanya, described such persons as devilish and urged people in Bayelsa to stay away from them.

    He said: “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Prof. Brambaifa from Bayelsa state as the head of the NDDC. He is more than qualified to occupy the position.

    “We want to warn those, who are planning any form of protest against the appointment of Professor Nelson Brambaifa as enemies of Bayelsa State

    “It is on this note that we as ex-agitators call on all Bayelsa to be wary and run away from devilish people who don’t mean well for our state. We will stand against any for of oppression against the will of the people”.

    Similarly, the CNDYB, in a statement by its coordinator, Ayebakuro Igbeta, described Brambaifa as an astute professional with the ability to administer the affairs of the commission.

    Igbeta said: “The coalition wishes to on behalf of the people of the region commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Federal Government of Nigeria for laying to rest the disturbing issue of the NDDC tenure.

    “It cannot be overemphasised that the issue was at some time beginning to brew disaffection and accrimony amongst the people of the region.

    “This appointment has most certainly laid to rest the burning questions bothering even on the integrity and sincerity of the President Buhari-led Federal Government”.

    Convener of the IUPC, Justin Ogboma, said the appointment of Brambaifa showed the sincerity and commitment of President Buhari to develop the region.

    “The decision of Brambaifa in particular is worth commending, as he is one man, with virtue of honesty, commitment and all-embracing.

    “We are confident that instead of causing disaffection, Brambaifa is one man that will build bridges and utilise the position to advance your good work in our region,” he said,

    Aggrieved by the move against Brambaifa, militants, who identified themselves as the Strike Force of MEND, threatened resistance from it’s ranks, if the Presidency, yields to selfish demands by replacing or removing Brambaifa.

    They said Brambaifa’s appointment was a product of the cries, protests, agitations and sacrifices of Ijaws, who refused to be cowed by fear, death or intimidation.

    Speaking through their spokesperson, Capt. Jhoto Koankiri, the group advised the Presidency to jettison desperate moves capable destabilising peace in the region.

  • Buhari appoints Acting MD for NDDC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of an acting Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ).

    He is Professor Nelson Braimbraifa.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that 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.

    Read Also: Buhari swears in Ibrahim Tanko as acting CJN

    He has also approved the dissolution of the extant board.

    Also appointed as Acting Executive Director (Finance and Administration) of NDDC is Mr. Chris Amadi while Engineer Samuel Adjogbe becomes the Acting Executive Director (Projects).

    The above appointments, according to the statement, take immediate effect.

  • Alleged N3.6b bribery: ‘Why Ex-NDDC director’s ally is in custody’

    The trial of a former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Executive Director of Projects, Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli, for allegedly receiving N3.6billion bribe from a contractor, was on Tuesday stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with Don Parker Properties Limited, Francis Momoh and Building Associates Limited before Justice Saliu Saidu on 45 counts.

    It accused Omatsuli of conspiring with the others “to disguise the illegal origin of a total sum of N3,645,000,000, being proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: corruption and gratification.”

    They allegedly committed the offence between August 2014 and September 2015 in Lagos contrary to Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act No. 1 of 2012 and were liable to be punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Defence counsel Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN) told the court on Tuesday that Momoh was yet to be released by the EFCC despite fulfilling his bail conditions.

    According to him, the third defendant was granted bail due to a “serious health challenge”.

    He wondered why the anti-graft failed to release him.

    But, prosecuting counsel Ekene Iheanacho said Momoh was yet to meet all the bail terms.

    He said EFCC was yet to get clearance from the ministry which the defendant’s surety claimed to be working in.

    “It’s true that the defendant has submitted all the documents for his bail.

    “We have confirmed the title documents from the Bureau of Land.

    “However, we received a letter dated December 31, 2018, from the Ministry where the surety claimed to be working in.

    “The ministry informed us that our letter had been forwarded to the appropriate quarter for reply.

    “This we have communicated to the senior counsel,” Iheanacho said.

    The prosecutor said the commission needed to verify the surety’s claim that he is a senior civil servant in the ministry before releasing Momoh.

    EFCC arraigned the defendants on November 8 last year, following which they were granted bail.

    The anti-graft agency had in May obtained a forfeiture order on Omatsuli’s four landed properties valued at N846.03m.

    An EFCC operative, Adamu Yusuf, said Omatsuli allegedly received a bribe of N3,645,000,000 from a consultant to the NDDC, Starline Consultancy Services Limited.

    Read Also: Man, 38, remanded for alleged defilment

    He said the firm was engaged to help NDDC recover its statutory three per cent annual budgets of oil and gas producing companies in the Niger Delta.

    Yusuf said it was agreed that Starline Consultancy Services would be paid 10 per cent commission on the total funds recovered.

    According to the operative, Starline Consultancy Services eventually succeeded in the job and was paid N10,218,019,060.59 as its 10 per cent commission between August 22, 2014 and June 25, 2015.

    Yusuf said: “Omatsuli agreed and received kickbacks to the tune of N3,645,000,000.000 from Starline Consultancy Services Limited through Building Associates Limited, whose alter ego is Francis Momoh.”

    The anti-graft agency presented a table showing that Omatsuli allegedly received kickbacks 11 times from Starline Consultancy Services between August 28, 2014 and September 8, 2015.

    Justice Saidu adjourned until February 11 for trial.

  • In 2 years, NDDC has rehabilitated 90% of roads in C/River— Ndoma-Egba

    Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said that 90 per cent of roads rehabilitated in Cross River between 2016-2018 were carried out by the commission.

    Ndoma-Egba, a former Senate Leader and the current candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Cross River Central Senatorial District, disclosed this on Sunday in Calabar during an interaction with newsmen.

    The former lawmaker said that the initiative was to attract development to the state by way of expanding and rehabilitating urban and rural roads for easy movement of goods and commuters.

    “” I have said this before and let me say it again, whatever road you see anywhere in the state that was tarred in the last two years, 90 per cent of the chances are that they were tarred by NDDC or the Ministry of Niger Delta.

    “”I want to be challenged on this. We have roads right from Calabar South to Bakassi, right down to Obudu and Obanliku Local Government area of the state.

    “ “If you see any school renovated in the last two years, new roof, new building, new furniture; 90 per cent of the chances are that it was done by NDDC.

    “These are some of the achievements we have in Cross River. We remember that once upon a time, the Calabar-Itu Road was impassable, but the road became passable by the effort of NDDC,” he said.

    According to him, same goes for the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja-Obudu road.

    He pointed out that from Ikom to Calabar that usually took up to five hours is now a journey of two hours plus.

    On the 2019 Cross River Central Senatorial District election, Ndoma-Egba said he was running the election based on his track records in the National Assembly from 2003-2015.

    According to him, he attracted over 74 projects within the period under review and facilitated federal employment for over 358 constituents.

    He added that he also provided scholarship for 700 undergraduates, organised skills acquisition training, and sponsored the Freedom of Information Bill, among others.

    “”I am seeking to return to the senate based on my track records, verifiable records, not promises. I am confident of winning this election because our people are going to vote for someone who can give them effective and quality representation.

    “”Some of my projects include the Faculty of Law in the University of Calabar; the Irruan Water Dam in Boki Local Government, the Edor Community Water Project and many others,’’ he said.

    He expressed confidence that APC in Cross River will sweep the polls in the Presidential, Governorship, House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly elections.

    He also drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari, urging people of the state to come out en mass on Feb. 16 and vote massively for him. (NAN)

  • PDP accuses APC of diverting N478m NDDC fund to rent crowd

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) alleged yesterday that  the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretly drew  over N478 million from the coffers of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ‘rent a crowd and offset bills’ in respect of the President Muhammadu Buhari  re-election campaign rally flagged off on Friday  in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State

    The PPCO also accused President Buhari of directly appointing serving ministers and heads of government agencies as members of his campaign council for the purpose of  continuing  to use them as conduit pipes for the diversion of public funds to finance his 2019 campaign.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the opposition party was also aware of the protests by some eminent Nigerians, including foremost businessmen, who were named as members of the APC Campaign Council without their consent.

    The action, PDP said, was a desperate bid to showcase the false impression that the businessmen were supporting Mr. President’s re-election bid.

    Read Also: 2019: PDP not an option, says Oshiomhole

    His words: “The N478 million NDDC fund which was originally budgeted for development projects in the Niger Delta was diverted to renting and transportation of crowd from other parts of the country to the rally to create an impression of popularity for President Buhari in the region.

    “Further information at our party’s disposal, shows that the said N478 million is part of the wholesome sum of N1.2 billion allegedly siphoned in tranches from the NDDC treasury by the cabal at the Buhari Presidency and APC leaders, who have been stealing money from various government agencies to finance President Buhari’s campaign.

    “Our party also has it on good authority that this ignoble scheme of siphoning NDDC development fund to finance his campaign was the main reason President Buhari foisted an unpopular leadership at the management of the NDDC despite the protests by critical stakeholders in all the states of the Niger Delta.

    “Furthermore, the PPCO is aware of the dissention by some APC leaders over President Buhari’s unilateral listing of individuals into his campaign council as announced by his media aide, without recourse to the selection process of the APC leadership.”

  • NDDC is fulfilling mandate, says Ndoma-Egba

    On November 4, 2016, a new Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari and headed by former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, was inaugurated. Mr. Nsima Ekere became the commission’s Managing Director (MD).

    What has been the effort of the Ndoma-Egba-led board towards the fulfillment of the mandate?

    The coming on board of Ndoma-Egba brought life to the hitherto inert and slumbering NDDC. One of the significant steps taken by the Ndoma-Egba-led board, to tackle the problem of project abandonment, was its decision to set aside 70 per cent of the commission’s annual budget for the completion of existing projects, while leaving only 30 per cent for new ones. This measure has guaranteed the completion of many viable seemingly neglected projects of the interventionist agency. Projects are now being prioritized and contractors properly monitored to ensure that they don’t abandon their jobs.

    The NDDC board, under the former parliamentarian, effected the termination of about 600 non-performing projects worth over N200 billion, after carrying out a comprehensive contract verification exercise. The awards for the cancelled contracts were rife with irregularities and the projects at zero percent completion, meaning that nothing had been done on them.

    A progress report on project implementation released in March this year indicated that in 2017, a total of 372 impactful projects covering roads, bridges, electricity, water, amongst others, were completed by the commission. Some of the projects include the 25.7 km Nembe-Ogbia road; the construction of Otueke Internal roads in Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State; Kira Dere Mogho road and Bridge in Gokana LGA, Rivers State; the construction of Iselu-Okaigben-Idung-Boko-Onicha Ugbo road, in Edo State; the Orie Ukwu Amaoji market road, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State and the Ashikem-Ufono-Betwaswan road in Obudu, Cross River State.

    The NDDC Project Monitoring Network, in Cross River State, recently, released its findings in the course of monitoring the agency’s projects being executed in the three senatorial districts of the state. The findings reveal that since November 2016 when the Ndoma-Egba-headed board was installed, the NDDC had embarked on and completed over 40 projects across the state. Coordinator  of the network, Mr. John Bassey, said: “The commission is also executing  112 other  projects across the three senatorial districts of the state all of which  would be completed on schedule and  a good number of the projects are in road construction  especially, rehabilitation of section of Calabar –Ikom –Ogoja federal highway.”

    Last year, NDDC had a total of 51 emergency road intervention projects in Akwa Ibom State. Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital has over 30 service roads that witnessed overwhelming turnaround from the massive road intervention programme, by the NDDC under the present board, across the nine states of the Niger Delta zone. Some of the roads in Akwa Ibom reported  to have received emergency repairs include the Etim Okpoyo Street, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo; John Asuquo Avenue, Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo Mbiabong and IfaIkot Road, Uyo; 1.2 km Enwang-Oron Road with 500m drainage system in Enwang, Mbo; and Ikot Obong Road in Ikot Abasi. Others are internal roads in Federal Housing Estate, Uyo; Anamfa Street, Ola Street and Eyo Akan Close, Oron; 1.3 km of Obubra Ekpo Bassey Street, Oron; Cross River Basin Road, Obiokama Ete, Ikot Abasi; Iko Akpan Omon, Otong/Ibok Brothers Estate Road, Ikot Ekpene; and 3 km of Control Post to Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene.

    In Delta State, the Ndoma-Egba- led NDDC has inaugurated road projects worth over N6.2 billion located in three Local Government Areas (LGAs). The benefiting LGAs are Warri North, Sapele and Ughelli North. In Sapele, a 3.1km road was constructed at the cost of N482m. Three roads were completed in Warri North at a total cost of N5.4 billion.The roads with drainages are: the 2.52kmTebu-Gbokoda road in Olero creek community; 2.125kmTebu-Gbokoda-Udo road and the 2.95km Udo-Ajamita road. In Ughelli North, the reconstructed Uloho Avenue Road gulped N312.7m.

  • PDP stakeholders accuse Jonathan, Turnah, others of anti-party activities

    Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  under the auspices of the Ogbia PDP Renaissance (OPR) has accused some leaders of Ogbia Local Government Area including former President Goodluck Jonathan of working against the interest of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
    The stakeholders specifically accused a prominent traditional ruler, King A.J Turner and the lawmaker representing Ogbia Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Mietama Obodor of anti-party activities.
    The Chairman of the group, Obhioru Mitanoni, in a statement on Friday said that Turner and Obodor were sponsoring candidates in other political parties to challenge PDP candidates.
    Mitanoni said following failures of their preferred aspirants to emerge victorious in the just-concluded PDP primaries, Turner and Obordor allegedly purchased nomination forms in other political parties for them.
    He further alleged that the Chairman of the State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Robert Enogha and former Special Adviser to the  Managing Director of the NDDC, George Turnah, were also involved in anti-party.
    He claimed that Turnah, who lost in his bid to clinch the PDP ticket for Ogbia Federal Constituency was backing one Cleric Awudum for the Ogbia Constituency 2 seat in the State Assembly.
    The statement said: “We are raising this alarm because of the emerging political development in Ogbia kingdom which is very disturbing. We want everyone to know that some people who call themselves leaders are working against our collective interest as a party.
    “We want our people to know that the likes of King A.J Turner, Hon. Mieteme Obodo, Chief Robert Enogha Ayalla and Barr. George Turnah are all guilty of anti-party activities. These men bought forms for those who lost the PDP primaries to go to other parties to contest against our candidates.
    “We are aware that for George Turnah the man he is sponsoring Cleric Awudum in Accord Party has not even resigned his appointment in the Niger Delta University. Everything is being done to ensure he wins the Ogbia constituency two seat. But we are ready for them”.
    Mitanoni lambasted Jonathan for failing to call some of the leaders, who are his known allies, to order, adding that the ex-president was promoting political divisions in Ogbia.
    He said Jonathan was the one who encouraged Chief Nimi Barigha-Amange to contest the Bayelsa East senatorial seat on the plattform of the ADC, having lost the PDP ticket to Blessing Ipigansin.
    He wondered why the former President  would conspire against a party that brought him to the limelight.
    He said the group decided to make a public statement and put the leadership of the party on notice to prevail on leaders to retrace their steps.
    He described the leaders as disgruntled and blamed them for the gross underdevelopment of Ogbia.

  • NDDC boss gets kudos for Akwa Ibom road

    Youths from Eastern Obolo, an Ijaw-speaking local government in Akwa Ibom State, have hailed the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, for the rebuilding Ikot Akpaden – Okoroette Road, the only access road to their area.

    Youths on the platform of ONE Sure Project from all 10 wards of Eastern Obolo, spoke during a visit to Ekere in Uyo on Saturday.

    Speaking through their leader, Mr Ama Williams, they appreciated the NDDC boss for the construction of the Okoroette – Amadaka Road, internal roads in Okoroette, the local government headquarters, and Iko Town as well as Okoroette Health Centre.

    They urged Ekere to contest the 2019 governorship election, promising him support in Eastern Obolo as grassroots’ mobilisers in the creeks.

    “This is an opportunity we don’t want you to miss,” Williams said.  Ekere said more projects were allocated for Eastern Obolo in the 2018 NDDC budget in recognition of Eastern Obolo’s importance as a major oil-producing area and to redress the neglect by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    “We will triple all the projects we are doing in Eastern Obolo,” he promised.

    Ekere recalled the  support he enjoyed from Eastern Obolo people in his political career, starting with his election into the House of Assembly in December 1997.

    Present were the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Sir Nse Ntuen; past Commissioner for Labour and Productivity Ibanga Akpabio, and State Welfare Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Sunny Ibanga.

  • NDDC condoles with Rivers over Aguma

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has condoled with Rivers government over the death of its Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma.

    Aguma died in a London hospital on Aug. 10 after battling undisclosed illness for weeks.

    Its chairman, Victor Ndoma-Egba, led NDDC’s Board and Management on a condolence visit to Governor Nyesom Wike, a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, said in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    The NDDC chairman described the late attorney-general as a true professional who contributed immensely to the development of the Niger Delta.

    “The late attorney-general was not just a friend but he was a brother and a professional to the core who had very deep insight.

    “The passing on of Aguma is not just a loss to Rivers state; it is a loss to the Niger Delta region because, he (Aguma), was an outstanding legal professional from the region.

    Ndoma-Egba told Wike that NDDC management and staff are citizens of the state due to the fact that commission’s is headquarters is in Port Harcourt.

    “As a commission, we have come to formally register our condolences to you (Wike), the immediate family of Aguma and to the people of Rivers State.

    “We pray that having done his (Aguma) bit on this side of existence, he will find eternal rest in the bosom of his maker.”

    Ndoma-Egba said the absence of the late commissioner for justice did not go unnoticed during a meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that held in Port Harcourt a few weeks ago.

    He said the absence of the deceased legal luminary was uncharacteristic of his person being a passionate and very active member of the association.

    Responding, Wike noted that Aguma’s death was a big loss to the people of the region, describing him as a committed, loyal and intelligent lawyer.

    “We thank God for the quality of life that Aguma lived while on earth. We thank NDDC for the condolence visit and urge the commission to participate in his funeral.

    “The government and people of Rivers State will honour the late attorney-general by giving him a State Burial as his contributions were greater than his age,” wike said.

    The statement said that other board members at the meeting included the NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Nsima Ekere and the Executive Director Projects, Dr Samuel Adjobe, among others.

  • Buhari mourns Delta APC Chieftain, son

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ijaw Community in Delta in mourning former acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan.

    Aginighan died in a ghastly car accident on his way Port Harcourt from Delta on Friday.

    Buhari expressed the condolences in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday.

    The President also expressed condolences to family, friends, professional and political associates of the deceased who also lost his son and police orderly in the car accident.

    Read Also: Buhari ‘s administration addressing illegal migration, says APC

    Buhari said Aginighan’s leadership role in the quest for peace and development in the South-South region of the country was most remarkable, especially with his foray into politics for selfless service to his people.

    He commended the APC chieftain’s loyalty to the party and his contributions to all the successes recorded in elections and development of the country.

    Buhari regretted that the chieftain passed on at a crucial moment in the nation’s political history.

    He prayed that almighty God would receive the soul of Aginighan, his son and orderly and comfort the families they left behind.