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Group Alleges Massive Fraud In NDDC
A group, Niger Delta People’s Movement Against Corruption And Injustice, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to act swiftly and halt the corruption being perpetrated by the members of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the interest of the region.
Raising a series of corrupt allegations against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) in an open letter to the President Buhari, the body noted that the appeal had become imperative in order to prevent further underground looting and unprecedented frauds presently going on in the commission.
In the letter signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Tamuno Torulagha, the body also faulted the setting up of Interim Management Committee and the submerging of NDDC under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, describing both move as a gross violation of the act establishing the commission as an interventionist agency.
The letter read in part: “We the Niger-Delta people and concerned Nigerians are aghast at your continuous silence and tacit encouragement of the perpetuation of clear constitutional breaches being daily executed by your appointee and Hon. Minister of the Federal Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs in the administration of NDDC”.
“This is an express contravention of the provisions in the act that establishes the commission as a regional development agency to complement the federal government efforts in the growth of the coastal areas after decades of neglect by successive governments.
“Mr. President, you have been known as an anti-corruption czar and a man with firm state of mind when confronting the monster called corruption. This was the reason we the Niger Delta people and indeed the entire country voted overwhelmingly to elect you please.
“However, there has been very disturbing developments that tend to run contrary to your known beliefs as it pertains to your fight against corruption and corrupt practices as being witnessed in the NDDC under the illegal Interim Management Committee”.
“The sacrifices our people made that gave birth to the establishment of the NDDC is being almost eroded by the illegal interim management committee which is in contravention with the provisions of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Establishment Act 2000”.
“Mr. President, we the Niger Delta people and concerned Nigerians reject vehemently your appointed Interim Management Committee while putting on hold the inauguration of the duly constituted management board you abinitio appointed having been screened and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives as spelt out in the NDDC Act.
“Mr. President, corruption and mindless looting is now the order of the day in the NDDC since you delegated your responsibilities to those who have high appetite for the funds of the commission and fighting hard to control the commission by frustrating your inauguration of a substantive management board.
“We attach herein, a detailed payment chart containing details of various beneficiaries’ companies’ bank names/accounts and the sums received to buttress our corruption claim which we urge you to investigate.
“We also convey the reservations of the Niger Delta people and concerned Nigerians to you so as to better understand that the consequences of allowing the Interim Management Committee to continue in breach of the extant rules establishing the NDDC is to give them a blank cheque to loot.
“Mr. President, the framers of the Nigeria constitution did not envisage a situation whereby, strange contents will be imposed on the constitution neither do any section of the NDDC establishment act 2000 made a mention of this illegality being christened “Interim Management Committee” as it is being witnessed today in the NDDC.
“Mr. President, we the Niger-Delta people and concerned Nigerians, wish to be educated over some of the decisions you have been influenced to take by the Hon. Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs in the unending NDDC melee and further compelled to ask if you gave Akpabio directives to also merge the NDDC as a unit of the Federal Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs?
“We have come to this position considering the fact that we wake up each day to see your approvals for Godswill Akpabio who has assumed duties as sole administrator of the NDDC in addition to being a minister in your cabinet”.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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