GUARDIAN NEWS

Olorogun Atuyota Ejughemre is erstwhile interim Secretary General of the South/South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), as well as a Second Republic Electoral Commissioner in the defunct Bendel State.

In this interview with CHIDO OKAFOR, the community leader examined the intricate web of insincerity and lack of commitment by officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has been grounded by a myriad of uncompleted projects and huge debts.

President Buhari should address this problem, says Olorogun Ejughemre

Why do you think NDDC is enmeshed in crisis? 
The crisis is basically because the amount of money budgeted for that agency to tackle the ecological, infrastructural and human capital challenges is enormous. And the management has been very poor. As such many people see it as a Christmas cake for our people.

So, they go take contracts with the sole aim of collecting mobilization and thereafter abandon the project. There is a litany of abandoned projects all over the place. Briefly, this is why there is crisis.

Are you saying NDDC does not have internal control mechanisms? 
They’ve been having internal audits to check those who receive contracts, those that executed contracts and whatever the challenges. But, because a majority of them have their fingers also deep in the mess in the rot they are not able to do their work effectively. So, it is not only the political appointees, but even public servants who are in the system are allegedly involved in the mismanagement of the finances of the commission.

The National Assembly recently screened and confirmed a new board, what do you think is hindering it from taking over the affairs of the commission? 
I think the board did not take over the affairs of NDDC since the Senate cleared all of them, save the lady representing River State, Joy Nunieh; because of the interference by the Minister, who set up his own interim committee, which is not known to law. That is why they have not taken over. There is fear of imminent clash and the president is absent, so even the directive of the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has not been carried out.