Students of Niger Delta extraction studying in the UK on scholarships awarded by the embattled Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) laid siege at the Nigerian High Commission in London in protest against what they said was neglect and abandonment by the NDDC, which had stopped paying their tuition and sundry living expenses, leaving them stranded in a foreign country.
Videos of the protests which went viral on social media platforms show the picketing students bearing placards expressing displeasure at the NDDC over negligence of their welfare. The students, who staged a sit-in at the entrance of the building, lamented that they have been stranded since the NDDC stopped paying their tuition and allowances one year after they were awarded the scholarship. Some said their situation has become so desperate that they are pan-handling on the streets of London.
An official of the High Commission who could not be identified was seen on the video making frantic efforts to calm down the irate protesters who demanded to speak to President Muhammadu Buhari or the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio. The official promised the demonstrators that their demands will receive urgent attention from the powers in Abuja but the students were not impressed; countering that they are on the verge of being evicted for non-payment of rents and subsequently booted out of school and deported to Nigeria for tuition delinquency.
Meanwhile, three former Delta State Governors – James Ibori, his successor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday took issue with Minister Akpabio, who named them among beneficiaries of the NDDC contract awards scam. In separate statements, the trio categorically denied ever taking any contract from the embattled agency, which is being probed by the National Assembly for financial misappropriation and corruption, including the squandering of N81.5 billion in four months.
In a July 23 letter to House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, Akpabio had linked Ibori, Uduaghan, and Kalu, among others, to the alleged contract scandal rocking the NDDC. Akpabio’s missive was in response to a 48-hour ultimatum from the House, challenging him to name lawmakers he alleged were beneficiaries of NDDC contracts or face a lawsuit for perjury and criminal defamation.
However, Ibori, in a statement by his media aide, Tony Eluemunor, said he had never solicited for any contract from the commission or been awarded one. He said the clarification was prompted by enquiries from friends and associates who had inundated him with phone calls on the matter. The statement said: “Chief Ibori hereby states categorically that he never solicited for, or was awarded, or indeed executed any contract with NDDC or any government agency, at any time, for that matter. And in all, he has been through in and out of public office; he has never been accused of being a government contractor, let alone a failed one hence he did not want to dignify the allegation with a response because it is ridiculous.” Ibori urged Akpabio to verify his facts and focus on the task at hand.
Uduaghan also denied being an NDDC contractor, saying he could not have collected N429 million road contract from the commission as alleged by the minister. The former governor said he “had never approached the NDDC for any contract whatsoever.” Uduaghan, in a statement by his media assistant, Monoyo Edon, said he had already reached out to Akpabio “to immediately correct the report” as he had never been awarded contracts by the interventionist agency. Uduaghan, therefore, advised the public to disregard the “mischievous publication.”
Kalu, in a statement by Emeka Nwala of the office of the Senate Chief Whip, said he believed the issues at stake in the NDDC had to do with missing funds and not work done. He added that he was becoming worried over his name being used indiscriminately to sell newspapers without verifications. He said the road projects attributed to him must have been because he personally intervened as a private citizen (before he became a senator) to plead with the NDDC in 2016 to repair roads in Abia; insisting that he will continue to lobby for more such interventions from Akpabio, whom he described as a friend.
“I was governor of Abia State between 1999 and 2007 and never held any public office until June 11, 2019, when I was sworn in as a senator. Between 2016- 2018 during my tour to several communities; leaders and welfare unions of most communities pleaded for urgent intervention on some dilapidated roads. I wrote to the NDDC informing the body of the conditions of these roads and the need for their attention since Abia is an NDDC state. The NDDC in their consideration, which I am very grateful to, award the roads to companies that duly tendered for the projects and not myself.
“Whatever link I have with the projects is because it was considered due to my intervention.”
Kalu also noted that the NDDC members that awarded the projects were not part of the interim management in controversy but the fully constituted body of NDDC with its board. The roads I requested for intervention as mentioned by the Honourable Minister were repairs of Ezere-Acha-Ndiokoukwu Road; Amaubiri-Eluama-Uru Ring Road, Lokpaukwu, Umuchieze; Ndi Oji Abam-Atan Road; the Okafia-Ozuitem-Bende road and Ozu-Amuru-Abam Road.
“The contractors have completed and delivered these roads a long time ago except Abam-Atani road, which I learnt from the contractors was slowed down due to rain but still ongoing. Meanwhile, it would interest Nigerians to know that the contractors who built these roads have not been paid any dime,” Kalu added.
