The Streetjournal Magazine is an online investigating media house that specializes on systematic, serious crimes, political corruption or corporate wrongdoing.
Bernard Okumagba to head reconstituted NDDC Board
The Nigerian government has reportedly constituted a new board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The members of the newly constituted board have been appointed into various offices in a bid to douse the threats and complaints from sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region.
The new board members amongst others include; Bernard Okumagba from Delta State as Chairman of the Board, Samuel Nduku from Bayelsa State as Managing Director, Effiong Okon Akwa who is the Sole Administrator as Executive Director Finance and Administration.
There has been tension between the Nigerian government, represented by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, headed by Godswill Akpabio and foremost voices in the region, including ex-agitators. Just recently, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) threatened the Nigerian government to constitute a new board or risk the return to hostilities in the region.
Godswill-Akpabio
Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the predictable gimmick of interim management committees and forensic audit reports deployed by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to delay inauguration of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board is about to run its course
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is used to having his way. As Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015, things had to be done his way or no way. He ruled when the Naira was relatively strong, compared to what we have today. At the peak of his power in 2013, former Minister of Finance and now the Director General of the World Trade Organisation revealed that revenue allocation to Akwa Ibom State was far in excess of the national budgets of countries like Ghana and Liberia. Akwa Ibom State got about USD1.7 billion (N260 billion) from the Federation Account in 2013.
Boma Ebiakpo, National Chairman of Niger Delta Peoples’ Forum, warns that the Niger Delta region is on the verge of being engulfed in major crises instigated by the refusal of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to inaugurate the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission
The recent demand by the Ijaw Youth Council for the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to run the agency in line with the NDDC Act is in order and we support it fully.
Other Stakeholders including the South-south governors, traditional rulers and youth groups have been requesting for a Governing Board to be immediately inaugurated for the NDDC in line with the NDDC Act without any further delay.
The Streetjournal Magazine is an online investigating media house that specializes on systematic, serious crimes, political corruption or corporate wrongdoing.