Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Anti Corruption Committee has disclosed that the level of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region of the country is as a result of the action of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) being spare headed by the Niger Deltans themselves.
This was disclosed by him in an interview with Channels TV on the programme “Politics Today” with Seun Okinbaloye.

According to Sagay, “It has always been the orientation of the government of this country whether under the British or under our own rule that something should be done about the condition of the people of Niger-Delta and of course, that’s why Willie’s commission was set up during the colonial era and now NDDC under Obasanjo, set up early in this civilian era.”

Meanwhile, he stated that the reason for the establishment of NDDC was to collate funds from several operators with a view to developing the region.

“The idea was to get funds subscribed by major operators in the Niger Delta including the Government and the FG itself, for special or specific investment for the development of that area.” He said.

However, he noted that the development of the region had been brought to its kneel as a result of the actions of the Niger Deltans who constitute the major stakeholders in NDDC which has brought an unfortunate historical experience.

“But what has been since then and getting worse, because at the beginning it was not so bad, is that the people who are appointed because by the NDDC Act, the Niger Deltans themselves occupy major positions there, Chairman, Managing Director, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Director of Operations or the person in charge of the actual development work, all Niger Deltans and the sad aspect of it is that, with the fate of Niger Deltans in the hands of Niger Deltans, that region has suffered a worst set back it has ever experienced throughout its history.”

Besides, Prof. Sagay said that there are high levels of corruption being perpetrated by the officials of the NDDC who are mainly Niger Deltans.

“These Niger Deltan officials count there, simply collect all monies and divide it among themselves, pretend and deceive the country that they are engaged in some development works whilst all they are doing is pilfering.

“The level of pilfering is mind-blowing, we are talking about billions, 30 billion, 50 billion, 80 billion, 150 billion, it’s as if money has become so cheap.” He said.

Meanwhile, whilst speaking on the premium he would place the performance of the NDDC in recent years, he reiterated his position that it is an unfortunate event because of the bane of corruption being perpetrated by Niger Deltans themselves.

“I have said, for me, the saddest is that it is Niger Deltans who are in charge of that area and all they have done is callously and very very callously share the money which has been contributed by various institutions towards the development of Niger Deltans amongst themselves.”

“They have looted the funds, whatever development we see now is just a pretense, that are just a token, to support the pretense that anything is going on.” He added.