The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has demanded the probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since its 19 years of existence.
He made this known when he received members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at his office in Abuja on Thursday. The minister said the National Assembly should probe the N15 trillion the agency has received since its establishment and not restrict it to between February and July 2020.
Akpabio noted that the outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of the commission would expose the level of corruption in the commission. He said that the allegations against him and the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC) was political, so organised and well-funded.
He said: “In the quest to reposition the Niger Delta Development Commission, and bring development and succour to the Niger Delta region, you will never walk alone. That is what I think out of NDDC. And I am very excited about it.
“Things have started so fast that I have started wondering that is it that the voices have been drawn? Is it that the voices of the masses are wearing now? Is it because of the mask we are wearing now Nigerians and Niger Deltans can no longer talk? Or is it that I am a mad man, who has seen the reason to move the region forward. Is it that people are not aware that NDDC for instance has existed for the past 20 years?
“Why can’t people ask questions? How come it is only now that the noise is louder? How come it is only now that even our parliament has found it necessary to conduct a selective probe of NDDC? Instead of beginning from the inception, year 2001, they are now doing five months probe out of almost 20 years of existence.
“Why? NDDC has been in existence since 1999. What is really happening now? How is it all petitions on earth are happening? When the wind blows, it blows along with answer.
“But I had an interview with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and that was sometime in October /November 2019. Shortly after Mr. President ordered forensic audit of NDDC, I was on NTA and I pointed out that as soon as this forensic audit commences, that hell would be let loose.”
