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  • NDDC: Group flays attack on Buhari, Akpabio over Akwa’s appointment

    NDDC: Group flays attack on Buhari, Akpabio over Akwa’s appointment

    The Oro Progressives Movement (OPM) has advised individuals and groups  in the Niger Delta region to refrain from attacking the persons of President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of  Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio over the appointment of Barr Effiong Akwa as interim administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    OPM said the appointment of Akwa to oversea the NDDC was laudable and should be sustained as Oro nation has been marginalised in managerial appointment in the commission even though it accounts for about 80% of the oil revenue derived from Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta region.

    Addressing newsmen in Uyo  on Thursday, National President of the group, Mr Ken Bassey said the appointment of Akwa would assuage Oro who have eight oil producing companies operating in its territory.

    Bassey explained that Akwa was the most senior official in NDDC to fill the vacant position after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had restrained Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei from functioning as the IMC of the commission. 

    Bassey therefore called for unity among the people of the region saying the protest by others from the region against the appointment would not foster brotherhood.

    “We urge our fellow brothers in the region to forthwith desist from unwarranted attacks on the person/office of Mr President and Commander in Chief, the Honourable Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the interim Administrator.

    “That Oro resource endowment and contribution to the nation must not be ignored. Oro accounts for not less than 80% of the derivable oil revenue of Akwa Ibom State who is equally a major oil producing state in the Niger Delta region with eight oil producing companies operating on its territory, five off shore and three onshore. 

    “That all verified ongoing projects within the region of the Niger Delta should be strictly monitored and consultants/contractors should be empowered to move to their respective sites forthwith.

    “That youths in respective communities of the Niger Delta region should be duly integrated into the various programme and projects as this will mark one of the best strategies in curbing illegal distortion of projects and unlawful chasing away of contractors.” He stated.

  • NDYM backs Akpabio,vows to resist blackmail against him

    NDYM backs Akpabio,vows to resist blackmail against him

    By Some Ogenyi, Uyo

    A youth group, the Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM, has said that it would resist any attempt to demonize the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and cause civil unrest in the Niger Delta region.

    In a statement yesterday in Uyo by its National President and National Secretary, Comrade Joe Jackson and Comrade Joshua Osamuiyi respectively, the NDYM said they believe in the capacity of Akpabio to bring sanity in the Niger Delta Development Commission.
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    NDYM stressed that Akpabio’s capability was evident in the quality road networks, other infrastructures, free and compulsory education ,regular grants to primary and secondary schools’ heads, Four-Point by Sheraton Hotel, among other remarkable achievement he recorded as governor of Akwa Ibom.

    “The Niger Delta Youth Movement views the unjustified excoriation of the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio by some persons as undeserving and unpatriotic.

    “The Movement, in consultation with the leadership of other well meaning organizations notes the campaign of calumny orchestrated by fifth columnists in the the Niger Delta region and their collaborators outside the region.

    “We, therefore, make bold to state that any attempt to demonize the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in order to cause stampede and civil unrest in the region shall be stoutly resisted.

    “NDYM is aware that President Buhari and indeed the federal government means well for our region and we are also aware that the task of repositioning the Niger Delta will not be a tea party and as a result have decided to throw our weight behind the effort of Senator Godswill Akpabio in clearing the cobweb of sleaze and slime from the NDDC through Forensic Audit.

    “Therefore, we salute the goodwill of our compatriots from other regions and urge all youth groups in the region to, as a matter of patriotism support this laudable initiative of President Mohammadu Buhari and the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs”

    NDYM added that they support the decision of President Mohammadu Buhari to give Akpabio the onerous task of supervising and repositioning the NDDC for aggressive development of the Niger Delta.

    The group however urged the National Assembly committees investigating the NDDC to exhibit the highest level of patriotism in handling the affairs the probe irrespective of alleged involvement of some of its members in the NDDC matter.

    “It is pertinent to also seriously advise that the forensic audit team should be time conscious in doing a clinical job since the incoming board and management should not be burdened by the challenges of pursuing errant contractors whose documents may have been muddled up by a compromised system.

    “We also use this opportunity to urge that the audit team should go the extra mile in setting a template for transparent financial operations of the commission going forward.

    “We wish to reassure President Mohammadu Buhari and his government that the youths of the Niger Delta Region shall support and stand by all programmes, projects and policies geared towards the genuine development of the people and region.” The statement said.

  • Reps spokesman to Akpabio: Make public your claims

    Reps spokesman to Akpabio: Make public your claims

    The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) has alleged that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has not proved his allegations against members of the parliament.

    In a statement, Kalu challenged the minister to go public with documents to prove that 60 per cent of contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were awarded to lawmakers.

    He recalled that Akpabio had made the allegation at an investigative hearing on the alleged N40 billion financial malfeasance in the NDDC.

    He recalled that the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila, challenged the minister to publish the list of the members within 48 hours.

    According to him, instead of publishing the list for the world to see in the interest of transparency, the minister chose to send an eight-paragraph private letter to the speaker.

    Kalu explained that the letter by the minister made reference to projects of 2018 which pre-date the 9th House of Representatives and had little to do with the bogus allegation.

    “The House therefore reiterates that the minister was given an ultimatum to publish names and not to write a personal letter to the speaker.

    “The minister is hereby cautioned to desist from spinning tales and is invited to go public as instructed.

    “Nevertheless, it will interest Nigerians to know that paragraph three of the minister’s letter fully exonerated the 9th Assembly.

    “Also, in paragraph seven, the minister completely withdrew his previous statement about 60 per cent of the NDDC projects being awarded to members of the 9th Assembly.

    “It is also instructive for Nigerians to note that the total number of projects in the 2019 NDDC budget was 5959 out of which 5416 projects were rolled over from 2018, which the 9th Assembly obviously had no influence or control over,” he said.

    Kalu said that Akpabio presented an ineffectual spreadsheet of only 266 projects out of which about 20 projects were attracted by past members of the National Assembly as constituency projects.

    He said that the projects were given to the members as contractors, but in furtherance of their representative mandate for the constituency.

    According to him, the projects presented in the Akpabio’s letter are not within the scope of the investigation and has do nothing to address the leadership’s ultimatum.

    Kalu said that contrary to the mischievous narrative being peddled on the internet, the only mention of the Chairman of the NDDC Committee of the 9th House of Representatives, Rep. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo in that letter, was as to his alleged request for the complete payment of 19 contractors.

    The legislator said that the contractors had had approached Tunji-Ojo with complaints over NDDC’s non-payment for their services.

    He added that the allegation had been completely refuted by Tunji-Ojo and for which there is no evidence linking him.

    The spokesman, however, said that the directive to press charges against the Akpabio has not been lifted by the House as the leadership was busy considering the weight of the minister’s letter.

    “If it does not clear the doubt and wrong perception, it will be sent to the court for clearance as the speaker stated,” he added.(NAN)

  • BREAKING: I didn’t say Lawmakers got 60 percent of NDDC contracts – Akpabio

    BREAKING: I didn’t say Lawmakers got 60 percent of NDDC contracts – Akpabio

    The Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 percent of the contracts at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Akpabio, in a letter read on the floor of the House during Plenary by the Speaker on Thursday said the only reference he made to 60 percent during his presentation before the NDDC committee on Monday was in response to a question by a member of the committee.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Reps move to sue Akpabio for perjury
    He said the member had sought to know whether a Medical Director can serve as an Executive Director Project, to which he responded by saying that since 50 to 60 percent of NDDC contracts were medical related, there was nothing wrong in a Medical Director serving in that capacity.

    He also said that the Executive Director Project of the NDDC forwarded to him a list of 19 owed contracts which the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission is passed.

    He also said that the NDDC has jot executed any contract under the 2020 budget since it has not been passed, while the 2019 budget was passed in April and has not been implemented

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila however referred the letter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    Details later…

  • Those who ‘swallowed’ NDDC funds will be dealt with, says Akpabio

    Those who ‘swallowed’ NDDC funds will be dealt with, says Akpabio

    Embattled Minister for Niger Delta and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akapbio has threatened that anybody found to have misused funds allocated to the Niger Delta Development Commission must be dealt with.

    Akpabio who is being questioned following allegations of fund-stealing and sexual harassment by the former acting Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Joy Nuniel told Vanguard Tuesday night that the era in which powerful and influential elements teamed up with staff at the NDDC to make away with cash meant for the development of the region was over and it was time to deploy whatever is available to work for the overall well being of the people of the troubled region.

    “We want to see major roads and bridges connecting major towns and villages and centres of development emerging across the nine states of the Niger Delta so that people can breathe a new lease of life,” Akpabio said.

    He said that those who doubted the forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari have now realised it was real and already working leading to the return of cash and materials earlier looted away by powerful elements who believed they were untouchable.

    “I am not satisfied with what is happening in the Niger Delta because the money that is coming to the NDDC is being hijacked by some people who do not want the money to provide any form of succour to the larger society. We need a change so that we can use available money to complete the East-West Road before December, do some specialist hospitals that can provide holistic health care for the people and create jobs for the people.

    “I want to see a new NDDC with a good balance sheet because for 19 years we lost everything to powerful forces who used the NDDC money to buy limousines for themselves and families leaving the poor people to continue in their squalor.

    “For this reason, the forensic audit will show who got what and who did what with the money they received and I can assure you that all those who swallowed NDDC money will cough it out no matter how powerful and connected they are. It has already led to the recovery of money and houses which were stolen before we came to the scene.

    “The audit is meant to reposition the NDDC and not to witch-hunt anyone. I have not given out contracts except the appointment of the forensic experts and coved19 tests and equipment for the states. We assisted the governors financially to set up facilities for coved 19.

    “We have blocked all loopholes and all money of NDDC is now in CBN and not scattered in banks at home and abroad as before,” Akpabio boasted.

  • Akpabio – I have no skeleton in my cupboard

    Akpabio – I have no skeleton in my cupboard

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has declared that he is ready to face any probe instituted to investigate his activities as Minister in charge of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This declaration was contained in a press statement by Anietie Ekong, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, issued yesterday in Abuja

    According to Aniete, Akpabio is upbeat about the plan to probe the NDDC as he has no skeleton in his cupboard, adding: “In fact, he will welcome a public hearing beamed live for all Nigerians to see”

    He continued: “The probe of the Commission along with the ongoing forensic audit will expose those who have used their exalted positions over the years to fleece the NDDC through fully paid contracts which were never executed and other forms of contact racketeering”

    “While we await the probe if carried through, we find it extremely insulting for Senator Akpabio’s name to be dragged into what is obviously a smear campaign”

    “The general public should not be misled by spurious claims. The NDDC under the supervision of Senator Akpabio will not be distracted neither will the ongoing forensic audit of the Commission be derailed through blackmail and intimidation”

    “The Minister will remain focused on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to reposition the Commission for sustainable development of the Niger Delta region”

    Statement reads in part: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to sensational headlines about an alleged N40 billion corruption in NDDC”

    ‘We wish to state categorically that under the supervision of Senator Akpabio, there has been no corruption in the NDDC”

    “It is obvious that there have been an upsurge in attacks on the Commission, the Interim Management Committee and the Honourable Minister through spurious and unsubstantiated allegations since the commencement of a forensic audit of the Commission. Unfortunately, these phantom allegations have found their ways into the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly”

    ‘In response to the campaign of calumny, the Commission had explained that the Interim Management Committee has only approved the total payment of Eighteen Billion Naira (N18, 000,000, 000) for contractual claims”

    “The payments to contractors are all payments for contracts awarded by previous administrations, especially the payment for contracts below N50 million. The present management has not awarded any single contract. So where is the bogey N40 billion coming from?

    “It is instructive that the Commission under the supervision of Senator Akpabio has devised a strategy by which only duly verified and inspected contracts with photo and video evidences are recommended and approved for payments. The Interim Management Committee has been very prudent in managing the affairs of the interventionist agency”

    “The interest of Senator Akpabio has been to make sure that the NDDC completes its headquarters building, started since the days of the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), the contract of which was awarded with approval of the Federal Executive Council many years before Senator Akpabio became the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs’

    “Following the recent Presidential approval, the NDDC is also providing intervention support to complement efforts of the Federal and State governments against further spread of COVID 19 in the nine states of the Niger Delta.”

  • Reps summon Akpabio over alleged fraud in NDDC

    Reps summon Akpabio over alleged fraud in NDDC

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, is to appear before the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission over an alleged N40 billion spent in two months by the commission.

    The Deputy Leader of the House, Peter Akpatason, is from the Niger Delta region and the sponsor of the motion which accused the NDDC of having spent N40 billion without due regard to the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    He also seeks the appearance of the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC to explain the plan to ameliorate the effect of the present economic situation on the region.

    The House has mandated its relevant committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all procurements and financial transactions of the commission for the fiscal year to ascertain compliance with relevant
    provisions of the law.