NDDC Administration: Mixed Reactions trail IYC Plot To Shut Down Commission

In the face of national insecurity reports of kidnapping, killings, and violent attacks on public institutions, the Niger Delta region remains the most peaceful region of the country but this feat could be halted following Wednesday’s deadline of a month’s ultimatum given by the national wing of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, to shut the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, until a substantive board is appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to run the affairs of the interventionist agency.

Stakeholders of the Ijaw extraction who interacted with reporters over the development expressed divergent views on the proposed action by the apex Ijaw Youth body.

The appointment of Effiong Akwa by President Buhari last year December as a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of the NDDC was followed by strong agitations with many drawing arguments from the NDDC act which gives legal backing to the appointment of a substantive board.

About five months of dealing with the forensic audit mandated by the Akwa’s administration, the issue of appointing a substantive board has not been given the desired attention and this development has prompted a resolution by the IYC to shutdown the NDDC Headquarters on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, after an initial one-month ultimatum.

A report of President Buhari’s willingness to conclude the ongoing forensic audit to ascertain the ideal setback of the NNDC before appointing a substantive board to manage the core responsibilities of the commission was also addressed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

According to a recent confirmation by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the NDDC forensic exercise will be rounded off in July.