The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched an internal cleansing process in a bid to improve its reputation and capacity to deliver on its mandate.

The Nsima Ekere management and board led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba of Cross River State, has launched a fierce battle to redeem the image of the intervention agency set up over 15 years ago to fast-track the development of the oil region and reduce restiveness.
The management said in Port Harcourt on Thursday, March 16, 2017, that only by building up a strong reputation, capital and cleaning up its image, would the NDDC carry out its core mandate successfully and attract credible partnerships and funds.
To execute this urgent task, the new managing director set up what he called an investigative panel to ascertain allegations against the Commission and put the records straight, so as to move ahead. The Commission is also auditing all its on going projects to decide those worthy of further funding attention.
The NDDC is believed to have grossed almost N3 trillion since inception, at a rate of N200bn per year. Between 2014 and 2016, its budgets had hit N865bn (2014 N322.6 bn; 2015 N299.56bn; 2016 N241bn).
The Commission, after a retreat in February, expressed dismay over lack of commensurate development in the oil region after over $40bn has been spent on the region.
The NDDC has over 5,000 uncompleted projects in the nine Niger Delta states, out of the about 9,000 initiated. The board said this was unacceptable.
On assumption of office in November 2016, the chairman said the image of the Commission was bad. “Outside, you perceive the NDDC as a contract-awarding silo. They call it the other stock exchange (where contracts are obtained and sold). It is not a good name to call us the other stock exchange. We must re-brand. Please key into the new change agenda. I will be part of that team that brought change, not to maintain the status quo.”
On how this could be done, the new NDDC CEO said: “We will have to do things differently to improve the transparency of our processes, leverage technology to increase accountability and efficiency, consult stakeholders frequently, engage proactively and be creative about the programmes that we design, to uplift the people and the region.”
He said his team was out to build a commission they must be proud of, that would meet its statutory obligations and mandate, and must adopt what he called 4-R Initiatives as strategic roadmap for the path they must all walk.
Ekere, who expressed displeasure at stories of corruption surrounding the Commission, said ; “We cannot allow these stories and allegations to keep making the rounds. We cannot continue to act as though these allegations are not important enough to be investigated. We cannot continue to act as though they do not affect us.”
He said the new board and management were determined to restructure the agency’s balance sheet, restore the NDDC core mandate, reform all its governance processes and project implementation protocols, and do what is right and proper at all times to give the oil region the Commission it deserved.
Ekere added: “So we are going to set up this committee to hold an investigative hearing where these contractors and individuals who have evidence of corruption will come and present them. The committee will work with interest groups like the civil society and the media to ensure that its work passes the test of time and inquiry.”
The MD immediately inaugurated a six-man committee headed by Director, Special Duties, Princewill Ekanim, and urged it to work, without distraction, and submit its report within two weeks.
“The Federal Government is determined to change the way Government business is conducted,” he said, “because we have a lot to do to fulfill the expectations and hopes of our people,” he noted.
Ignatius Chukwu
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