KEHINDE GIWA

In recent days, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has come under intense attack and scrutiny as various forms of allegations of corruption have been levelled against them.

On June 11th, 2020, Joy Nunieh, former Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, accused Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, of indulging in various forms of corruption.

The former NDDC MD told ARISE TV that she is the first woman to have slapped the two-time Akwa Ibom Governor for allegedly trying to lure her into taking a blood oath of secrecy in Abuja.

On Sunday Politics on Channels TV, a guest on the programme, Kolawole Johnson, who is the Head of Research Act for Positive Transformation Initiative also levelled numerous accusations of fraud and sharp practices against the leadership of the NDDC. 

Particularly, he singled out that funds were transferred into the account of the Executive Director of Project, Cairo Ojouagbo while NDDC scholarship students are languishing in foreign lands. 

In response, Ojouagbo claimed that it was all a misunderstanding. He explained that funds were sent to his account because he is planning on visiting the students on scholarship in the UK.

Less than 24 hours after the program was aired. The 2019 NDDC scholarship students have accused the Niger Delta Development Commission of abandonment, claiming that even their fees have not been paid.

One of the NDDC scholars identified himself as Olukayode Olugbemi Esq. took to his official Twitter handle to express his displeasure at the Commission for neglecting him and over 200 scholarship awardees. 

Olugbemi said that all 2019 NDDC scholarship awardees have neither been paid their tuition nor upkeep allowance. 

“$30,000 for schooling and living costs for scholars have not been paid. 7 to 11 months of studies have gone on without fees being paid,” he said.

He further alleged that scholars who used their personal funds for transportation and other logistics to get to the UK in September 2019, was recently paid in April 2020, after so much public outcry on social media.  

Another 2019 NDDC scholar in the UK, Ukwuegbu Chijioke also narrated his ordeal in a video posted on social media. Chijioke confirmed what Olugbemi said that the NDDC is yet to pay for their tuition, He said he was forced to source for funds and survive by doing menial jobs. 

Chijioke as well as Olugbemi claimed that they have been faced with the option of paying for their university tuition and be forced to drop out of the school system. 

He alleged that the NDDC has not made any official communication to any of the students and has refused to respond to any of the e-mails sent to them from both the Institutions and the students.

Olugbemi went on to describe the claim from the NDDC that they are funding 1000 students for postgraduate studies as politically motivated.

He added that the schools have started transferring the tuition debts to students.

The Niger Delta Development Commission is a Federal Government Agency established by Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 with the sole mandate of developing the Oil-Rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.