The Niger Delta Development Monitoring Group (NIDDEMOG) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering N83.59 billion and $98.07 million owed to the NDDC.
The recovered funds represent outstanding three per cent statutory levies payable by oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region.
NIDDEMOG Executive Director, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, described the recovery as a welcome development in a statement issued on Friday in Yenagoa.
He said many oil companies had failed to meet statutory obligations intended to support development in oil-producing communities across the region.
According to an EFCC investigation report, a Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative audit identified N90.046 billion and $229.534 million in outstanding NDDC levies.
The report indicated that the liabilities covered the period between 2015 and 2020.
James-Eriworio said it was unacceptable for companies benefiting from the region’s resources to withhold funds meant for its development.
“Companies benefiting from the Niger Delta’s resources should not deny communities funds legally designated for their development,” he said.
He noted that oil-producing communities continued to bear environmental and socioeconomic consequences of exploration and production activities.
He said pollution, degraded farmlands, contaminated waterways and destroyed livelihoods remained major challenges facing residents.
The NIDDEMOG chief also praised the NDDC management, led by Managing Director, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, for pursuing recovery of unremitted statutory funds.
He equally commended the National Assembly for exercising oversight responsibilities and facilitating the recovery process through the EFCC.
James-Eriworio urged the NDDC to ensure transparent utilisation of the recovered funds for projects delivering measurable improvements in communities.
He called for priority attention to erosion, shoreline degradation, ocean encroachment and other ecological threats confronting the Niger Delta.
The NIDDEMOG executive director also urged the commission to strengthen human capital and infrastructure development programmes across the region.
“Communities must derive tangible benefits from statutory resources provided for their development,” he said.
James-Eriworio, immediate past Vice-President of the Ijaw National Congress, urged communities to protect NDDC projects within their areas.
He warned against vandalism and theft of public infrastructure, stressing that community ownership was essential for sustainable development.
“It is despicable to see public infrastructure being vandalised and stolen with reckless abandon in communities across the Niger Delta,” he said.
He urged the NDDC to sanction communities where projects and public amenities were deliberately vandalised or stripped of facilities. (NAN)
