It was a national show of shame on Sunday evening as a top Official of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Cairo Ojougbo struggled to justify why officials of the commission paid themselves monies meant for Nigerian students on scholarship abroad.
Cairo Ojougbo who is the executive Director, Projects, for the NDDC struggled to defend himself when confronted with account numbers and amount paid into the accounts on live television.
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The official had appeared on a political programme, Politics Today to defend allegations of fraud leveled against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio by the former Managing Director of the NDDC, Ms. Joy Nunieh.
A commentator, who happened to be the Head of Research, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative – Kolawole Johnson accused NDDC Directors of diver of diversity management for scholarship students abroad into their private account. He said further that he was ready to open a can of worms on the NDDC.
While he spoke, he called out some of the account numbers the monies were paid into as well as their mouths. He further challenged the CBN to provide full details of the money is in the account while Mr. Cairo struggled to defend their allegations.
In his rebuttal Mr. Cairo claimed that the monies were meant for officials of the NDDC to visit students being sponsored by the agency on scholarship abroad.
Reacting to the incident several Nigerian students confirmed that indeed they have not been paid their allowances for the past 9-10 months.
They claimed that the Nigerian government and the nddc abandon them abroad without recourse to their welfare.
I am an NDDC scholar at the Royal agricultural university cirencester UK, Studying Food Security. Why will @NDDCOnline send over 200 @NddcScholar Scattered all the world with majority in the UK to study and not have fund them for 9 months and counting. How difficult is it
— Mr. lovable🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@AzubuikeFavou11) July 12, 2020
A trip to visit graduating students whose tuitions and upkeep have not been paid 10 months after they left for a 12 months program!
— Andrew Saba (@AndrewSaba3) July 12, 2020
Can’t even remember how much I have lent/given to acquaintances on NDDC scholarship in this UK when their funds were not paid or was late and they couldn’t pay rent or feed. It’s really disgusting and shameful how some of these officials divert, loot and destroy lives.
— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) July 12, 2020
The NDDC revelation is a typical case of what happens in every other Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria. They always create an avenue to enrich their pockets. This country is a mess.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) July 12, 2020
Exactly! But someome's dad went on National TV to laugh at their predicament when he was presented with facts. I mean, NDDC scholars can barely feed themselves, pay rent or afford warm clothes because of the loot but he's kikiing & talking about attending graduations. Shame🤦🏽♀️ https://t.co/RKbVxsljJr
— #StaySafe (@DrTubo) July 12, 2020
There is no lie here. Over 200 students have been abandoned for almost a year. No tuition fees paid and no living expenses. NDDC MUST say what they did with these monies. pic.twitter.com/yvWYIFF0b7
— Jane Omo (@JaneOmo3) July 12, 2020
Nigerian students under NDDC scholarships are dying abroad – Kolawole Johnson, Head of Research, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative.#SundayPolitics #ctvlivetweets
— Channels Television (@channelstv) July 12, 2020
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