NDDC Is Broke, We Need More Funds-Akpabio

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has lamented about how the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is broke and in desperate need of more funds.

Akpabio addressed patrons at the NDDC Strategic Capacity Building Workshop in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, where he made it known that the commission does not get a frequent flow of funds which has affected it.

He said: “Corruption is one of the greatest problems of the Nigerian society and it also finds its ugly and devastating effects in all sectors of the polity including the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“The level of corruption engulfed all the sectors including government, parastatals, ministries, government officials and community leaders even the youth leaders and NDDC was not left out in the act.

“Weak political and institutional governance in the Niger Delta has led to the misuse of public resources, poor service delivery, and the poor enforcement, of the law.

“The consequence has been the lingering restiveness, the breakdown of trust, abuse and misuse of power between officials and the communities, and embezzlement and attendant violence.

“The current funding patterns and budgeting processes must embrace these best practices, in order to achieve the best we can, while asking for more funding to do even more sustainable projects and programmes,”

“We are here today in furtherance of our ongoing consultations with internal and stakeholders of the NDDC to distil commonalities among stakeholders for speedy development of our beloved Niger Delta region.”

“The NDDC is born again. Contrary to its unsavoury past ways, the core of our new personae is continual consultations and collaboration with stakeholders to co-create commonalities for effective development of the Niger Delta.

“I beckon on all stakeholders of the NDDC and the Niger Delta, please come and let us reason together. Please come, let us work together to create common way forward for the benefit of our people,”