[OPINION BY GEORGE KERLEY] NDDC: Time for a new development agency for the Niger Delta | TheCable
past a legacy of turbulence, neglect and poverty into an assured future as our Nation’s most peaceful, most prosperous an most ecologically regenerative region by 2020” – President Olusegun Obasanjo, March 27, 2007
Like his statement above says, it was President Obasanjo’s wish that by 2020, the Niger Delta would be the most peaceful and prosperous region in Nigeria. That did not happen.At least not in 2023, about sixteen years after he made the above statement and almost 22 years after he scrapped the OMPADEC and established NDDC in its place.
In the first three years of its establishment, OMPADEC commenced projects worth $500 million but the bulk of the money was said to have been paid to contractors whose addresses could not be traced or verified. The same kind of malfeasance has undermined NDDC’s effectiveness over the years. The Act mandates the Federal Government to contribute 15% of the total statutory allocations due to the Niger Delta States from the Federation Account.
Stories of ‘white elephants’ abound in the Niger Delta, including schools without desks, hospitals without medicine and road projects uncompleted or completely abandoned. There are cases where contractors did not even mobilize to site even after receiving initial payments. Without an iota of doubt, there is a total agreement today across the Niger Delta that NDDC has failed in its responsibilities to the Niger Delta people.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Niger Delta group knocks Senate on 2021-2022 budget probe - Punch NewspapersNiger Delta group knocks Senate on 2021-2022 budget probe
Read more »
Court restrains Onochie from exercising executive powers in NDDC, sacks 18 aides appointed illegallyA federal high court in Warri has restrained Lauretta Onochie, chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), board...
Read more »
NDDC: Court stops Onochie from exercising executive powers - Punch NewspapersNDDC: Court stops Onochie from exercising executive powers
Read more »
Group Faults Move to Allegedly Sabotage NDDC Budget Passage – THISDAYLIVE
Read more »
NDDC Saga: Onochie Has Only Three Aides, Says Onuesoke – THISDAYLIVE
Read more »
Senate extends investigation on NDDC alleged unauthorised transactionsSenate last week set up a committee to investigate transactions allegedly carried out by the NDDC under its 2021 and 2022 budgets without the approval of the Senate.
Read more »