A civil society organisation, Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and suspend Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs.
Reacting to the corruption scandal rocking the commission, the group said this action will be in order so as to ensure transparency and accountability.
Yomi David, executive director of the organisation, said repositioning is needed in the commission if there would be meaningful development in the Niger Delta region as well as lasting peace.
“It could be recalled that Senator Akpabio at a public investigation hearing by the National Assembly, Abuja, alleged that both arms of the National Assembly were given or awarded contracts and projects to develop the Niger Delta areas by the NDDC,” he said.
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“The public hearing was aimed at uncovering alleged massive diversion of funds, malapropism, fraud and endemic corruption in the NDDC.
“The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has been suffering immense neglect, and even the East-West road in the Niger Delta Region has been abandoned by the ministry.
“We therefore, call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to suspend the minister and the entire Interim Management Committee of NDDC for gross misconduct, mismanagement, fraud and corruption and to constitute a proper NDDC Board, as well as removing NDDC from the supervision of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
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“This is in order to reposition the commission to carry out the mandate of meaningful development of the Niger Delta Region and ensure a lasting peace in the region.”
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