“Designed for Niger Delta, Delivered Elsewhere? Fresh Outrage Over NDDC Benefits”
By Passman Akpos
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has firmly denied allegations that Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, influenced the diversion of development projects and employment opportunities meant for Niger Delta communities in Ondo State.
The denial comes amid growing accusations from residents of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, who claimed they were sidelined in recent NDDC employment exercises and project allocations in favor of the minister’s Akoko constituency.
Reacting to the claims, the Ondo State representative on the NDDC board, Otito Atikase, described the allegations as “false, misleading, and baseless,” insisting that the minister has no involvement in the commission’s operations.
Earlier reports had alleged that Ese-Odo communities were completely excluded from a recent NDDC recruitment exercise, despite being part of the Niger Delta region. Community sources claimed that all successful applicants were from Akoko and Akure, with none from Ese-Odo.
“There was an employment exercise done by the NDDC, but Ese-Odo has not been captured,” a source alleged, adding that repeated appeals to the minister over the issue yielded no response.
Beyond employment concerns, the community also accused Tunji-Ojo of manipulating the allocation of NDDC projects to favor his political base, allegedly violating the commission’s established sharing formula. According to the claims, projects meant for multiple local governments were concentrated in his constituency during a period when the commission reportedly lacked a governing board.
However, Atikase dismissed the accusations in their entirety, stating that the Minister of Interior has “no connection whatsoever” with the NDDC’s affairs.
“The mandate, structure, and operational framework of the NDDC are distinct and independent, with clearly defined oversight mechanisms that do not involve the Office of the Minister of Interior,” he said.
He further described the allegations as a “figment of imagination” and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public, stressing that there is no evidence of project diversion or employment bias.
Atikase also challenged the credibility of the employment lists cited by critics, noting that the names could not be verified through any official records of the commission.
Maintaining its stance, the NDDC said it remains committed to transparency and reforms aimed at restoring its credibility after years of controversy.
“The board and management of the commission will never engage in any illegal transactions that will impair the image of the commission we have started to build,” Atikase added.
Despite the commission’s rebuttal, concerns persist among residents of Ese-Odo, who continue to demand clarity and inclusion in federal development initiatives within the Niger Delta region.
