By Destiny Ugorji
A youth group, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM has alleged that there is massive corruption in the running of the Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC, even as it threatened to expose it in the coming weeks.
NDYM, the umbrella youth organisation in the Niger Delta region made the allegation in a Communique issued at the end of a National Executive Council meeting of the body in Port Harcourt, weekend.
The Communique, signed by the group’s National President, Joe Jackson, Secretary, Amakuro Isaac and twenty three (23) others, blamed corruption for the underdevelopment in the region.
The group lamented that despite the huge investments in the Commission, not much is being done to better the lives of the people, but warned that it is presently investigating the information of massive looting going on in the Commission under the present leadership and will make its findings public soon.
“Corruption is at the centre of the region’s underdevelopment and the youths have remained endangered species in their patriotic efforts to draw the attention of relevant agencies to the developmental challenges of the region.”
“…despite enormous resources committed to the development of the Niger Delta region by successive administrations, not much is being seen in terms of development of the region.
“…the absence of transparency and accountability in institutions empowered to develop the region is a major obstacle to the development of the region.”
“…the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) needs to be purged of corruption, with a view to sanitising the system and bad eggs expunged. The NDDC under the present leadership has no place for the youth of the region. No action plan or template for youth development, empowerment and engagement is in place. The youth of the region have not been effectively involved in the activities of the NDDC.”
“The impact of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the region has been minimal.”
Continuing, the youth group called on the country’s anti-graft agencies to beam their light on the region, while urging the present leadership of the Commission to ensure transparency, accountability and due process in its dealings.
“The country’s anti-corruption agencies must begin to beam their searchlights on public institutions in the Niger Delta region.
“The present Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC, under the leadership of Mr. Nsima Ekere must ensure transparency, accountability and due process in the award of contracts by the Commission, especially, that of Water Hyacinth projects.
“The present NDDC Management should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that the youths of the region are carried along in the issues concerning them. The continued marginalization of youths of the region by the present leadership is unacceptable.
“As a principal stakeholder in the formation of the NDDC and particularly, the YOUTH DIRECTORATE, NDYM is reviewing the situation in the Commission and will soon make its findings and decisions known to the world.
“We await a blueprint and action plan, backed with an implementation guide on youth empowerment and engagement by the current NDDC leadership.
“We support a civil means to the resolution of the Niger Delta problem and shall at no point, back any military action in the Niger Delta.
“The Federal Government should commence the ACTUAL clean-up of Ogoniland and other areas/states in the Niger Delta Region affected by oil exploration without further delay.
“As the umbrella youth group in the region, NDYM should be actively involved in the Federal Government’s dialogue initiative, aimed at restoring peace to the region.
“NDYM calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately nominate, for confirmation, credible persons to represent the three states of Abia, Imo and Ondo on the Board of the NDDC, in order to calm frayed nerves.
“NDYM strongly condemns the planned relocation by the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) of some of its offices from Port Harcourt to Lagos and wants Exxonmobil to immediately relocate all its offices to Akwa Ibom State for the sake of the on-going peace moves by the Federal Government.
“The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs must review its mandate, with a view to developing and implementing activities and projects that can touch the lives of the Niger Delta people positively.”
Below is the full Communique:
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE NIGER DELTA YOUTH MOVEMENT (NDYM) HELD AT HER NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, PORT HARCOURT ON THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY 2017.
The Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) is the Umbrella youth organisation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, covering the 9 states of the Region.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Movement met on Friday, 3rd February, 2017 at the NDYM National Secretariat, No. 40 Mbonu Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt. All the members of the NEC from the nine states of the Niger Delta region were present.
The objective of the meeting was to review recent happenings in the region, affairs of the youths of the region, governance, and general situation of the region, especially, as it concerns the youth. The discussions were exhaustive and resolutions reached.
OBSERVATIONS
After deliberations and contributions to the issues raised, members made observations and recommendations on strategies, and means to enhance the welfare of the youths of the region, while holding governments in the region accountable, with a view to ensuring good governance.
1. That despite enormous resources committed to the development of the Niger Delta region by successive administrations, not much is being seen in terms of development of the region.
2. That the absence of transparency and accountability in institutions empowered to develop the region is a major obstacle to the development of the region.
3. That the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) needs to be purged of corruption, with a view to sanitising the system and bad eggs expunged.
4. That the NDDC under the present leadership has no place for the youth of the region. No action plan or template for youth development, empowerment and engagement is in place.
5. That the youth of the region have not been effectively involved in the activities of the NDDC.
6. The impact of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the region has been minimal.
7. Corruption is at the centre of the region’s underdevelopment and the youths have remained endangered species in their patriotic efforts to draw the attention of relevant agencies to the developmental challenges of the region.
RECOMMENDATIONS/RESOLUTIONS
1. That the country’s anti-corruption agencies must begin to beam their searchlights on public institutions in the Niger Delta region.
2. That the present Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC, under the leadership of Mr. Nsima Ekere must ensure transparency, accountability and due process in the award of contracts by the Commission, especially, that of Water Hyacinth projects.
3. The present NDDC Management should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that the youths of the region are carried along in the issues concerning them. The continued marginalization of youths of the region by the present leadership is unacceptable.
4. As a principal stakeholder in the formation of the NDDC and particularly, the YOUTH DIRECTORATE, NDYM is reviewing the situation in the Commission and will soon make its findings and decisions known to the world.
5. We await a blueprint and action plan, backed with an implementation guide on youth empowerment and engagement by the current NDDC leadership.
6. We support a civil means to the resolution of the Niger Delta problem and shall at no point, back any military action in the Niger Delta.
7. The Federal Government should commence the ACTUAL clean-up of Ogoniland and other areas/states in the Niger Delta Region affected by oil exploration without further delay.
8. That as the umbrella youth group in the region, NDYM should be actively involved in the Federal Government’s dialogue initiative, aimed at restoring peace to the region.
9. NDYM calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately nominate, for confirmation, credible persons to represent the three states of Abia, Imo and Ondo on the Board of the NDDC, in order to calm frayed nerves.
10. NDYM strongly condemns the planned relocation by the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) of some of its offices from Port Harcourt to Lagos and wants Exxonmobil to immediately relocate all its offices to Akwa Ibom State for the sake of the on-going peace moves by the Federal Government.
11. The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs must review its mandate, with a view to developing and implementing activities and projects that can touch the lives of the Niger Delta people positively.
Signed
Comrade Joe Jackson National President- Akwa Ibom State Com. Mathias Tamunoeni Dep. Nat. President-Rivers State Com. Amakuro Isaac National Secretary Bayelsa State
Com. Kenneth Toate Assist. Nat. Secretary Rivers State
Com. Nta Ani Treasurer Cross River State
Com.kanu Sherrif Organizing Secretary Abia State
Com.(Barr.) Peter Oghenebrume Nat. Legal Adviser Delta State Com. Meduoye Goodluck National Pro. Ondo State
Com. Barthlomew Obodo National Nat. Welfare- Imo State
Com. Anthony Ntukidem Assist. Nat.Org.Sec.Akwa Ibom state
Com. Honesty Asemota Assist. Welfare Officer – Edo State
Com. Nosa Asemota National Provost Edo State
Com. Davik Irek Assist. Legal Adviser Cross River State
Com. Mathew Nwamaginna Assist. Provost 1 Abia State
Com. Gospel Werenepreye Assist. Pro Bayelsa State
Com. Izuchukwu Okeabaram Nat. Assist.Fin.Sec.Imo State
Com. Kingsley Okere chairman Abia state
Com. Sammy Charles chairman Akwa Ibom State
Com. John Dan Aputu Chairman Bayelsa State
Com. Emmanuel Edet Chairman Cross River State
Com. Youyah Stephen Chairman Delta State
Com. Asoro Philips Chairman Edo State
Com. Abidoye Adetoye Chairman Ondo State
Com. Chigozie Ohiri Chairman Imo State
Com. Ijeoma Austin Chairman Rivers State
