Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has reportedly begun remittance of three per cent operational cost recovered from International Oil Companies (IOCs) to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This is happening as the oil companies have been charged to ensure timely release of their percentage to the NDDC in line with the Petroleum Industrial Act.
The Guardian recalls that during the forensic audit in April 2021, after the management team of NDDC was suspended and failure of most oil companies to remit their three per cent operational cost, former President Muhammadu Buhari, ordered the EFCC to become responsible in collecting the three per cent of IOCs funds and remit to NDDC. The anti-graft agency swung into action and started pulling the money without remittance to NDDC, a situation which has raised concern from stakeholders.
However, fielding questions from journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, confirmed that the EFCC has begun remitting the recovered funds.
He said: “On resumption, we wrote to EFCC on how much they recovered from the IOCs and what they are actually supposed to remit to NDDC. They have actually started paying the money back to NDDC while still receiving the funds.
“We are at reconciliation point to determine exactly how much EFCC recovered from the IOCs. We are not depending on EFCC record alone. It is our responsibility to do reconciliations and report to the region on how much was recovered by EFCC from IOCs.”
Ogbuku added that, burdened by the issues of fake contracts , awards and several other negative impressions about NDDC, the commission has created a ‘Due Process’ department to checkmate the anomalies, ensure that due process is strictly adhered to and to correct the bad image about the NDDC.
He disclosed that the commission is willing to be internally regulated through a proper governance system that will entrench transparency.
MEANWHILE, a renowned Niger Delta activist and former spokesman for Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Anabs Sara-Igbe, has urged the federal and state governments to desist from undue interference with the NDDC.
According to him, consistent meddling by governments was responsible for the aborted visions and failure to deliver the core objectives of the commission to the people of the region.
“There is too much interference in the NDDC, thereby making it impossible for the commission to develop the region. Many managing directors were sacked due to their insistence that money from the region should not be moved out to develop other states.”
He, however, expressed confidence in the current administration led by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, saying he has the ability to address the numerous challenges facing the region, adding that stakeholders are happy on his choice and the decision of President Bola Tinubu for him and his team to continue driving the ship of the commission.
