Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is facing scrutiny over allegations of misuse of funds and contract irregularities under the leadership of its Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku.
Contracts Awarded to Unqualified Companies:
Investigations have revealed that the NDDC awarded multi-million naira contracts to companies lacking the requisite experience or capacity to execute infrastructure projects.
Examples of Contract Irregularities:
Examples include Jocarl Investment Limited, primarily a poultry business, being awarded a road construction contract worth over N1 billion, and Elka Nigeria Limited, with no known expertise in civil engineering, receiving a contract exceeding N5 billion for road construction in Bayelsa State.
Substandard or Abandoned Projects:
These contracts often result in abandoned or substandard projects, leaving communities without the promised infrastructure.
Questionable Financial Practices:
Internal disputes within the NDDC have brought to light questionable financial practices, including operating multiple accounts contrary to the Treasury Single Account policy and allegations of unauthorized increases in monthly imprest allocations.
Call for Reforms:
Stakeholders are calling for comprehensive reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and the proper utilization of resources intended for the development of the Niger Delta region.
