NDDC warns IOC against remitting 3% levy through UK private account

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned International Oil Companies (IOC) against remitting the commission’s 3 percent levy through any UK private Account.

In a statement, Director, Corporate Affairs,  Mr.  Charles Obi Odili said it was brought to the attention of the commission that a security agency working with unauthorized private individuals is coercing IOCs to pay the three percent levy to the commission through a private account in the United Kingdom.

Obi Odili who described the development as a clear case of illegality by elements within the security agency said the NDDC has not authorized any security agency to collect remittances on its behalf.

According to him,  any oil company, invited on such purposes should insist on payment of any such sum directly into the NDDC account with the Central Bank of Nigeria but not to any other agency’s account.

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“Any security agency wishing to recover unremitted funds from the IOCs or oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region should do so in collaboration with the management of the NDDC and such refunds should be directed into the accounts of the NDDC with the Central Bank of Nigeria, but not otherwise”, he said.

The NDDC image maker directed any oil company coerced to make such payments to report same immediately to Mr Clever Okoro, Director, Legal Services, of the Commission on +234 813 011 7590.

He explained that the law setting up the NDDC does not provide for the collection of its revenue by any agency other than the commission

“Secondly, extant rules, particularly the Treasury Single Account (TSA) regime, mean that all revenue due to any agency of government can only be paid to that agency’s account in the Central Bank of Nigeria”, he said.