Akpabio seeks wider probe of NDDC

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs , Senator Godswill Akpabio, has criticized what he described as the limited scope of the National Assembly ’ s inquest into the financial activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission .

According to him , the probe should not be restricted to between February and July 2020 that is currently the mandate of the National Assembly but should be a comprehensive probe of the agency ’ s 19 years of existence .

Speaking when members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria visited him in Abuja on Thursday , the minister explained that the commission received over N 15 trillion in the last 19 years , with nothing to show for the funds .

Akpabio noted that the discretionary probe would not address the problem of the commission, which he described as “ a cesspit of corruption . ”

He assured Niger Delta residents and the country that the outcome of the ongoing forensic audit would expose the magnitude of the rot in the agency .

He said , “ 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 the answer . ”

The minister said he had earlier pointed out in a television interview in 2019 that the forensic audit of the NDDC would spark controversy and a campaign of calumny against him and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) .

He added , “ Shortly after Mr President ordered the 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 . ”

He claimed that the campaign against him and the NDDC Interim Management Committee was “ so organised and well -funded that you hardly open a newspaper and you don’ t see a screaming headline , and all they are talking now is corruption in five months ; not corruption in 19 years and seven months . ”