Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has broken golden silence on the burning NDDC scandals and feud between Niger Delta Development Commission’s Minister, Godswill Akpabio and NDDC Managing Director, Joy Nunieh.

In a statement issued through his spokesman, Garba Shehu on Thursday, President Buhari called for better coordination among security and investigating agencies within the National Assembly to ensure that the administration’s effort to bring sanity, transparency and accountability to the management of the resources dedicated to the development of the Niger Delta sub-region is not derailed.

The president also directed a speedy and coordinated investigation into the fraudulent allegations in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

He said that his administration wants to bring about “rapid, and sustainable development to the region,” and that he is determined to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta, in spite of the enormous national resources dedicated to this annually.

President Buhari therefore charged auditing firms and investigative agencies working in collaboration with the National Assembly Committees to resolve the challenges in the NDDC. He added that the auditing firms and investigative agencies must initiate actions in a time-bound manner and duly inform the Presidency of the actions being taken.

The full Presidential Statement:

I am determined to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta, in spite of the enormous national resources dedicated to this annually. This administration remains committed to bringing rapid, even and sustainable development to the region.

In line with this, I have made it clear to the National Assembly and our investigating and law enforcement agencies to pursue better coordination in their work, so that the shared goal of ensuring sanity, transparency and accountability of dedicated funds can be achieved.

All investigating agencies and auditing firms currently working collaboratively with National Assembly Committees to audit and reposition the NDDC must act with urgency and a sense of purpose, and ensure that I am kept informed of any and all actions being taken.

Our determination to entrench transparency and accountability applies not only to the NDDC, but also to all other institutions of the Federal Government. We will not relent.

Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.