New Storm In NDDC Over N15bn Flood Relief, $15bn Railway Plans

A proposal by senior officials of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to release N15 billion to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA is stirring controversy GWG.ng reports.

The proposal which is backed by some officials of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, is, however, being strongly opposed by many genuine stakeholders who are seeing the plan as a last minute lunch by the top shots in the outgoing administration.

It was gathered that some lawmakers are also involved as many of the politicians are said to have gotten themselves into a frenzy on the release of the fund with many seeking to get their hands on the pie.

One prominent official in the Ministry who it was alleged may not be retained  by next administration is said to have initiated the plan but some top officials of the NDDC are said not to be in traction with him.

The NDDC senior management it was gathered was being careful following the recent focus of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the agency.

The EFCC it was gathered has commenced an investigation of the financial affairs of the agency.

The EFCC investigation commenced with the quizzing last week of a very, very senior management official at the Abuja office of the commission. The investigation is focused on the opening of multiple accounts by the new management and the Private Public Partnership, PPP deal being worked out between the new management and an American outfit for a $15 billion rail project in the region.

GWG.ng had earlier reported the controversy between the NDDC chairperson, Ms Lauretta Onochie and the managing director of the commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku over the PPP.

The Chairman of the NDDC governing board, Ms Lauretta Onochie had in a terse statement described the MOU as shady, illegal and of no effect saying that the management could not have signed such an agreement without the approval of the board.

Besides, noting that a similar contract had been approved by the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Executive Council, FEC in 2021, she expressed outrage at the audacity of the management in forging ahead with the same mindset of feasting on the collective patrimony of the region for its private interests.

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