News

NDDC To Reward Winners Of Talent Hunt With Car, Dubai Trips, Others …As FG Orders NDDC To Resume …Suspended Scholarship Scheme

Published

3 years ago

August 3, 2022

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said that it has lined up a brand new car, performance trip to Dubai, internship deals and other prizes for prospective winners of its newly inaugurated talent hunt.
The logo and procedures to participate in the Niger Delta Talent Hunt (NIDETH), aimed at discovering creative Niger Delta youths, were unveiled in Port Harcourt, last Monday, by the Interim Administrator, NDDC, Dr. Efiong Akwa; and Lead Consultant, Harry Song.
Speaking at the event, Song, a popular songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, said the hunt was designed to discover talented Niger Delta youths in the areas of music, comedy and dance.
Song said: “The live auditions will take place in Benin, Edo State on August 6; Yenegoa, Bayelsa State on August 13, and in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on August 20, while the grand finale will take place in Port Harcourt on September 1.
“Interested participants should visit NIDETH website and register with their one-minute video to participate in the live auditioning.
“The winner of the Niger Delta Talent Hunt stands a chance to win a brand new car, a performance trip to Dubai with Harry Song, an internship deal and other consolation prizes. Other participants will also stand the chance to win a wide variety of consolation prizes”.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Youths to NDDC Interim Administrator, Udengs Eradiri, said the commission was excited about the programme.
Describing it as a rare opportunity, Eradiri urged youths across the nine states of the region to take advantage of it to pitch their tents in the creative industry.
He said the NDDC under Akwa had been repositioned to roll out empowerment programmes, and create opportunities for youths in the region.
“We are not in short supply of talents in the Niger Delta. The youths are just looking for opportunities to showcase to showcase their talents and the NDDC under Dr. Effiong Akwa, is determine to create these opportunities. There is no doubt that this Niger Delta Talent Hunt will produce superstars in the creative industry”.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to resume the commission’s scholarship scheme suspended some years ago.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, gave the directive during a two-day retreat for senior staff of the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry, which ended in Abuja, at the weekend.
An official of the ministry, who spoke in confidence, said Umana vehemently kicked against suggestions to scrap the scheme, and insisted that it would be sustained, expanded and revised to eliminate all forms of corruption in the system.
The source said Umana wanted a scholarship scheme that would be home-driven with a special focus on Nigerian universities.
“The idea is to retain the scheme and make it home-based instead of the usual practice of sending beneficiaries abroad to study courses offered in Nigerian universities.
“Foreign scholarship schemes will not be totally removed. But it will be de-emphasised. Niger Delta students will no longer be sent abroad to study courses offered in Nigerian universities.
“The commission can only sponsor interested scholars overseas to study only special courses that are not found in our universities. Therefore, Umana has ordered the commission to review and re-launch the scholarship scheme.”
The source said other far-reaching decisions were taken at the retreat to reposition the NDDC in harmony with the recommendations of the forensic audit report.
He said it was resolved that NDDC would henceforth streamline its projects against the current practice of awarding many jobs in one fiscal year.
“Henceforth, the NDDC will work closely with the National Assembly to ensure that projects are streamlined. Projects that had been completed would be inaugurated and the commission will also stop issuing emergency contracts”, he said.
He said there was also hope for the contractors, who had finished their jobs but had yet to receive their money as a decision was reached that the commission should focus on clearing its debts.
The source said: “It was also agreed that the NDDC should cancel all projects that had been awarded but the contractors refused to mobilise to their sites. The money for such projects will now be used to complete other abandoned projects.
“The forensic audit report is being implemented in phases. The area that concerned the National Assembly had been sent to the lawmakers. The areas that concern the anti-graft agency have also been directed to them.
“A staff audit has also been ordered to ensure proper placement of workers and retirement of those directors due for retirement. The Niger Delta stakeholders should expect a new NDDC that responds to their yearnings under the current minister”, he said.

By: Akujobi Amadi

News

EFCC Indicts Banks, Fintechs In N162bn Scams

Published

55 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted a new generation bank, six Fintechs and some microfinance banks in major financial scams by allowing fraudsters to launder huge sums of money.

Director of public Affairs of the Commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made this known at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

According to him, the compromised institutions allegedly allowed cryptocurrency transactions worth N162 billion to pass through without proper due diligence within the 2024/2025 financial year.

He said that the financial institutions clearly compromised banking procedures and allowed the fraudsters to safely change their ill-gotten gains into digital assets and move them to safe destinations.

“A total sum of N18.1 billion was moved through the financial system without due diligence of customers by the banks.

“It is worrisome that investigations by the commission showed that cryptocurrency transactions to the tune of N162 billion passed through a new generation bank without any due diligence.

“Investigations showed that a single customer maintained 960 accounts in another new bank and all the accounts were used for fraudulent purposes.

“That is bad news but the good news is that following our intervention the commission has been able to recover N33.62 million, which has been returned to some of the victims.”

He explained that the scams were in two categories, adding that the first was a syndicate of fraudsters that employed an airline discount scheme to lure their victims.

He said that they advertised a discount system for the purchase of flight tickets of a particular foreign carrier.

“The payment module is designed in such a way that the victims’ payment is actually made into the account of the airline.

“After payment is made the passenger’s entire funds in his bank account are emptied.

“Investigations showed that more than 700 victims have been scammed so far, with a loss of N651 million,” he said.

According to him, investigations show that the scheme is being masterminded by a foreign national; the commission has so far recovered and released N33 million to victims of the fraud.

He said that another scheme involved a company named Fred and Farid Investment Limited, simply called FF investment, which lured Nigerians into a bogus investment arrangement.

“More than 200, 000 victims have been defrauded in this regard. A total sum of N18 billion was raked in through nine companies offering diverse investment packages.

“The companies are: Credio Banco Limited; Deliberty Rock Limited; Liam Chumeks Global Service; Ngwuoke Daniels Technology; and Icons Autos and Import Merchant.

“Others are : Newpace Technology Services Limited, Primepath Ways Ventures Limited, Kaka Synergy Network Limited and Sunlight Tech Hub Services Limited.”

He said that foreign nationals were behind the schemes, while there are three Nigerian accomplices who have been arrested and charged to court.

He said that the masterminds were on the run and efforts are being made to bring them to book.

“The Commission is calling on regulatory bodies to bring financial institutions to compulsory compliance with regulations in the areas of Know Your Customers (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and others.

“Deposit Money Banks, Fintechs, Micro Finance Banks found to be aiding and abetting fraudsters should be suspended and referred to the EFCC for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.

“Negligence and failure to monitor suspicious and structured transactions by banks should no longer be allowed,” he said.

While cautioning members of the public to be wary of these actors, he said that the EFCC would continue its works against money laundering by fraudulent actors.

Uwujaren urged financial institutions to firm up their operational dynamics and save the nation leakages and compromises bleeding the economy.

News

Group Advocates Indigenous Language Sustainability, Calls for Policy Action

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

A pan-Nigeria organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters (ILCP), has called for the deliberate development and compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in both primary and secondary schools across the country.

The group made the call during its maiden Congress held in Bori, Rivers State, which was convened to examine challenges hindering the official adoption and effective teaching of Ogoni languages in schools.

Speaking at the Congress, the Executive Director of the organisation, HRC Mene Magnus Edooh, Amb.P, emphasised the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving a people’s culture, values and history. He warned against the gradual extinction of native languages, noting that language loss equates to identity loss.

“Years ago, Latin was a language of global relevance, but today it is largely extinct. We do not want Ogoni languages to suffer a similar fate. As a people, we cannot afford to lose our identity through the death of our languages,” Edooh said.

He explained that the Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters was established to collaborate with language stakeholders to ensure that children and younger generations remain connected to their mother tongues. The organisation also appealed to governments at all levels, as well as relevant institutions and individuals, to take strategic actions aimed at promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s indigenous languages.

Also speaking, the newly appointed Director of Media and Information, Prince David N. Gbarato, questioned the rationale behind government reluctance to accord indigenous languages their rightful place in national development policies.

According to him, “People with well-developed languages are people with well-developed indigenous systems and affairs,” stressing that language development is fundamental to cultural and societal advancement.

The Congress further served as a platform for the ratification of key officers of the organisation and featured the participation of representatives from various indigenous language groups and other language stakeholders, all of whom echoed the call for renewed commitment towards safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.

News

Rivers Boundary Commission Steps In to Resolve Okoloma–Ban-Ogoi Land Dispute

Published

4 days ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

As part of deliberate efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and prevent communal conflict, the Rivers State Boundary Commission has intervened in the long-standing boundary dispute between Okoloma (Afam) Community in Oyigbo Local Government Area and Ban-Ogoi Community in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Commission at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday, January 16, 2026. The meeting was aimed at setting up a technical committee that will work towards an amicable and lasting resolution of the land dispute between the two neighbouring communities.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, stressed the importance of peace, dialogue and mutual understanding in resolving boundary-related disagreements. She urged all parties to approach the process with sincerity and restraint, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through constructive engagement.

Prof. Odu advised the communities to emulate the peaceful disposition and leadership style of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by presenting their grievances and petitions without bitterness or rancour, assuring them of the Commission’s commitment to fairness and justice.

She also expressed satisfaction with the presence of the Chairmen of Tai and Oyigbo Local Government Areas at the meeting, describing it as a clear demonstration of their resolve to maintain peace and harmony between the affected communities.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Dr. Okechukwu Akara Nwaogu, and his Tai Local Government Area counterpart, Hon. Mbakpone Okpe, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring peaceful coexistence among their people. They emphasized that peace is critical to attracting development and investment to the area.

Both council chairmen commended the Rivers State Boundary Commission for its proactive intervention, expressing optimism that the establishment of a technical committee would pave the way for a fair and enduring resolution of the dispute.