NDDC says palliatives, not cash fairly distributed across 9 Niger Delta States

Admin I Friday, January 31, 2025

 

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC says  it is aware of reports circulating in the media claiming that the palliatives meant for some critical groups in Cross River State were not fairly distributed.

The NDDC noted that contrary to the reports the palliatives, not cash as indicated in the fictitious stories were fairly distributed across the nine Niger Delta States, including Cross River State.

“Nothing can be farther from the truth as Niger Deltans in the nine mandate states of the NDDC, including Cross River State, received the palliatives with joy and gratitude”, the commission said.

In a statement signed  by Director Corporate Affairs, Seledi-Thompson Wakama, the commission said it is constrained to respond to the false story about an imaginary diversion of NDDC funds meant for the palliatives in Cross River State and the use of unauthorised lists.

“To set the records straight, NDDC distributed palliatives, not money, as alleged in the story circulating in the media and the list of beneficiaries was duly approved by the NDDC Board”, the NDDC image maker said, adding  that the Board and Management of the NDDC is now more than ever determined to uphold its mantra, which is: “Making a Difference,” in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region.

“We urge the public to disregard the false stories spread by mischief-makers to derail the various innovations introduced by the NDDC Board and Management, led by the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie and the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

“We are fully aware of the increasing need to be seen as more accountable to the public and to conduct our affairs more transparently”, the statement added.

According to her it is in the quest of responding to the needa of the Niger Delta States that the commission engaged KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, “to review and strengthen our corporate governance system and improve our internal processes and institutional protocols.

“They have helped us establish a new institutional culture anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance.

“We are committed to working with all our stakeholders to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To achieve this goal, we are collaborating with development partners, including the state governments in the Niger Delta region, “to build a region that is socially stable, economically prosperous, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.”

“We assure our stakeholders and members of the public that the NDDC Board and Management will not be distracted in its resolve to do things differently and make a difference in the Niger Delta region”, the NDDC said.