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House Of Reps Insists Threats, Blackmail Won’t Stop NDDC Probe

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2020

Editor

The House of Representatives said on Tuesday that it will not succumb to any form of threat, intimidation or blackmail in its quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding allegations and counter allegations of corruption rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The House also said it decided to carry out the investigation as part of its legislative function, adding the exercise has not in any way hindered the forensic audit of the commission ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to series of allegation, Chairman of Committee on Niger Delta, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also denied claims by the Executive Director, Project of the IMC, Dr. Cairo Ojuogoh the House was sitting on the Commission’s 2020 budget.

The NATION reports that he insisted that the delay by the Commission in submitting its 2019 budget performance was responsible for the delay in passing the 2020 budget.

He said since threat and intimidation has not succeeded in stopping the National Assembly from carrying out its functions, those involved in the allegations have resorted to blackmail, adding that anyone who has nothing to hide should come forward to defend themselves of the allegations instead of throwing tantrums.

Tunji-Ojo dismissed claims of award of emergency contract not budgeted for by the commission, saying “Obviously, this is sheer blackmail and we expected this from the onset when the investigation process started.

He said, “The bottom line is that we are not going to be deterred. This is coming after threat to life by militants and different text messages which has failed. The next agenda to stop the legislative work is blackmail. I can say it categorically that we are more determined to work for the people of the Niger Delta”

He said it was it part of budget indiscipline for any body to award a contract for a project that was not budgeted for.

Reacting to allegations that he demanded for payment for an emergency training, which was smuggled into the 2019 budget, the lawmaker said: “I have gone through the 2019 budget as approved and I can tell you that there is no provision for emergency training and so.

” I don’s know what he is talking about. I have said it before and let me repeat it for emphasis sake that I dont have a single contract in NDDC. It started with a 17 kilometre road which they could not substantiate and now, they have come up with another thing. We are only expecting more.

” I have never had any contract with NDDC, I am not a contractor with NDDC, I have never worked for NDDC and I have never been paid by NDDC for anything.

“I am the chairman of this committee by the grace of God and I know the responsibilities on my shoulders. I know that the Niger Delta is looking up to us for succour, for intervention, for help and for a greater tomorrow. We will not mortgage of the Niger Delta people for sake of our today. That will not happen.

“I don’t have a contract, and I repeat, I dont have a contract. It is an indictment on their part if they claim that there was an award for none budgeted item. That is a very serious offence which the National Assembly must look into.”

(NATION)

(PHOTO: File)

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Related Topics:#Probe NDDC House of Representatives NDDC

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Edo: Coral City To Accommodate 50,000 Residents — Commissioner

Published

7 hours ago

September 21, 2023

Editor

The Edo State government on Wednesday said it expected its proposed Coral City would accommodate not less than 50,000 residents when completed.

Edo State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, who addressed a joint press conference with her counterpart in the Ministry of Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said that the reason for the new city, which she said started September 2022, was to reduce the pressure on the Benin City Centre.

“We have done the design, and we have 1,300 plots available for different land uses: residential, commercial, multi-purpose, religious, leisure, schools, markets, health centres, everything you need for a city to thrive, and it is coming with full infrastructure like roads, drainages, power, telecommunication, and others.

“We intend to house 50,000 people when it is fully completed. We have broken the project into four phases so that within the tenure of the current administration, we will do the first phase with the expectation that the subsequent governments will continue the project. We opened for subscription with 467 plots to jump-start the project,” Omo disclosed.

To achieve that, she added that a New Town Development Authority had been set up to oversee the comprehensive development of the project and appealed to Edo residents to begin to apply for plot allocation in the new city, assuring that the land acquired would come with title documents.

She said that the project would be in four phases, adding that after the initial subscription, subscribers would also be allowed to do staggered and instalment basis.

Also speaking at the press conference, Nehikhare reiterated the state government’s commitment to prioritising the people’s welfare.

Nehikhare disclosed that since the state government flagged off its free bus rides penultimate week, the feedback from the people had been most encouraging as commuters who had been using the free buses had been able to save their daily transportation fares.

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Seplat JVC Trains 350 Teachers In Edo, Delta

Published

7 hours ago

September 21, 2023

Editor

No fewer than 350 teachers drawn from Edo and Delta states respectively were, Wednesday, trained under the Seplat/Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).

The 4th edition of the Seplat/Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) which held in Benin was in partnership with Seplat/NNPC E&P.

Speaking, Seplat Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Chioma Afe, said training is geared towards deepening teachers skills to deliver knowledge to students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

Afe also explained that STEAM scheme is to improve self awareness and knowledge of teachers.

According to her, “beyond that, we want to re-orient our teachers. STEAM helps creativity. We can teach Science to students creatively,” adding: “Teacher’s leadership is the process where our teachers collaborate with others to improve teaching to impact teachers.”

Also, the Adviser Community Relations of NNPC E&P, Mr. Owunari Levi, lauded Seplat for its support for the sustained growth and progress of the company’s oil and gas exploration pursuits.

Levi said: “This programme is one of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives designed to provide and build the capacity of Teachers residing within the NNPC E&P Limited/SEPLAT operational communities.”

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Tribunal Judgement: Police In Kano Impose 24-hour Curfew

Published

20 hours ago

September 20, 2023

Editor

The Kano state police command has imposed a 24-hour curfew, to guard against the breakdown of law given the recent judgement passed by the governorship election tribunal on Wednesday.

According to a statement signed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Gumel and made available to pressmen, the curfew takes immediate effect.

He said that given the Constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies to preserve law and order in the State, the Kano State Police Command has mapped out strategies in that direction and called on the good people of the State to give the necessary confidence and supports.

He then added that “Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies including the entry and exits of the State to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the Twenty-Four Hours (24hrs) Curfew order as communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September 2023 taking effect from 6 pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6 pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023. Violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

”Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving People of the State and urge them to remain law-abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the State.