Niger Delta Activists Demand Major Shake-Up in NDDC

The Coalition of Niger Delta Organizations and Activists (CNOA), on Thursday, embarked on a peaceful rally to call on President Bola Tinubu to reshuffle the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In his address, the convener of the coalition, Comrade Maximus Harcourt-White, lamented that the humongous billions of dollars invested in the commission has not reflected in commensurate positive impact on our land and our people.

According to Harcourt-White, the NDDC has detailed its mandate with the effect directly felt by ordinary citizens.

He, therefore, urged the President to as a matter of urgency, “remove the NDDC from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs where unhealthy political bickering and civil service bureaucracy has greatly whittled its impact on our people and our land, and domicile it with the Presidency, where it hitherto was.”

Harcourt-White noted that: “This will afford Mr. President the ability to pay keen interest in the affairs of the commission, as well as, enhance its productivity as regards the set objectives and establishment values. ”

He added: “As a people, we also wish to implore Mr. President to relieve Major Gen. Barry Indiomu of his appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Program with immediate effect.

“The President must appoint someone that possesses the requisite qualification and skills to complement Mr. President’s visionary leadership to make the program people-oriented and more pivotal in solving the lingering challenges in the region.

“For transparency and accountability, we are also calling for a forensic audit and investigation of the office of the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Program, as well as the NDDC to track the monies appropriated to these offices and the expenditure.

“This will stand Mr. President out and strengthen the faith of the Nigerian people in his administration’s effort to check corruption and financial impropriety. “