COVID-19: Disquiet in NDDC over alleged diversion of N100m

By OKODILI NDIDI, Abuja

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been enmeshed in a fresh allegation of financial misappropriation.

A youth body, the Niger Delta Youths Forum for Development (NDYFD) has alleged that the Management of the Commission has diverted the N100 million released for Niger Delta youths as palliative for the coronavirus pandemic.

The group alleged further the said money was released to the Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the Commission on Youth Affairs, Alfred Etuk, who has refused to meet with the youths or set up a committee for the disbursement of the fund.

According to the aggrieved youths in a statement by the National President, Malachy Chukwuka, Secretary, Henry Eke, and Publicity Secretary, Felix Osibakoro, respectively, the refusal of the Management to address the issue showed that there is a grand conspiracy to divert the money to private pockets.

In the statement, which also served as a formal petition to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the group regretted that the new management has not departed from the practice of mindless looting of NDDC funds that bedeviled the Commission.

They urged the President and the supervising Ministry, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to investigate the release and the alleged diversion of the N100 million, to unravel those behind the crime.

According to the statement: “We want to use this medium to register our grievances over what is currently going on at the NDDC.

“We had thought that the days of mindless looting of NDDC money were gone but we are surprised at what is happening now and we want Mr. President to intervene.

“It is most painful that at a time when the government is battling the Coronavirus pandemic and soliciting the support of Nigerians and public institutions, the management of the NDDC is taking advantage of the situation to divert public funds.

“The latest is the N100 million released as palliative for Niger Delta youths over the COVID-19, which was given to Special Assistant to the MD on Youth Affairs, Alfred Etuk, against public opinion.

“Since the money was released, he has refused to interact with the various youth organisations in the region nor set up a Committee to handle the disbursement.

“Since the money was released, he has gone dark and refused to pick his calls or respond to the several messages sent to his phone and other platforms”.

Meanwhile all efforts to reach the indicted aide were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls or respond to the message sent to his phone and WhatsApp.

But when contacted, the NDDC Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, described the allegation as false.

His reply to the text message sent to him by our correspondent simply read, “totally false”.

Other attempts to get further clarifications from him failed. (The Nation)