NDDC has failed Niger Delta – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has stated that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has failed the region in spite of the huge funds at its disposal.



Speaking during an investigative hearing on the alleged financial mismanagement in the NDDC, Gbajabiamila stated that the people of Niger Delta are yet to benefit from the commission which was established 20 years ago.



He said;




“In the over two decades since, that promise has not been kept. Despite its critical importance and the vast sums that have been appropriated by the Federal Government, the Niger Delta of Nigeria continues to score exceptionally low on many of the major human development indices.

“These statistics reflect the reality of disease and deprivation, lack of opportunity and broken dreams that is the plight of many of our fellow citizens in the region.

“It is therefore particularly disturbing and quite frankly, embarrassing that every other news report about the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) seems to centre around escalating allegations of corruption and malfeasance.

"The purpose of this investigative hearing is to ask why the failure persists and to do so with a determination to understand the causes of that failure so that the parliament can act to redeem the NDDC and remove those factors that imperil the commission’s noble mission.

“We will examine the allegations of corruption and malfeasance that have dogged the commission. We will do so with neither fear nor favour, confident in the assurance that we have both a constitutional duty and moral obligation to ensure that the enormous sums of money appropriated to the NDDC over the years are appropriately accounted for by those whose responsibility it has been to manage this important and all too essential public trust.”



Gbajabiamila added that the success of the investigation will depend on the willingness of the various ‘stakeholders’ in the commission, within government and in the local communities, to cooperate with the committee.



He said;




“I encourage all the stakeholders to consider this investigative hearing as a last-ditch effort to save the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and to engage with this committee in a patriotic partnership to break the jinx of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region."

NDDC: Policemen allegedly storm Joy Nunieh's home ahead of appearance before house committee

Some policemen have allegedly been spotted at the home of former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh ahead of her appearance before a House Committee.



Joy Nunieh is scheduled to testify before a House of Reps panel today July 16, as part of the ongoing probe of NDDC.



Media personality, Fisayo Soyomobo said the policemen arrived at Nunieh’s residence at 3 Owuru Creek View, off Herbert Macaulay Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt at about 4am. He said this means the former Acting MD of the NDDC cannot leave for the Port Harcourt International Airport where she should be connecting a flight to Abuja.



He tweeted;




Dozens of policemen are circling the House of Joy Nunieh, the former MD of NDDC, who is scheduled to testify before a House of Reps panel today as part of the ongoing probe of NDDC.

The policemen arrived at Nunieh’s residence at 3 Owuru Creek View, off Herbert Macaulay Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, at about 4am. Their presence means she cannot leave for the Port Harcourt International Airport where she should be connecting a flight to Abuja.

Nunieh recently accused Niger Delta Minister Godswil Akpabio of trying to “come up” on her after failing to bribe her and convince her to take an oath of secrecy in Abuja.

Cardi B defends husband Offset after he's called out for buying their 2-year-old daughter Kulture a Birkin bag

Cardi B has defended her husband Offset after he came under fire for gifting their daughter Kulture a Birkin bag on her 2nd birthday.



After Offset shared a video of him presenting the pricey bag to Kulture, 2, people commented stating that the child didn't appreciate the expensive gift and would have preferred a doll.



Cardi B told one of such commenters, "She got all the Barbie d."







Later, Cardi took to her Instagram Story to address the topic of their recent extravagant purchase.



The 27-year-old said: "Yea, kids only care about toys and candy. But the thing is, kids also go outside. Kids go to restaurants, kids go to fancy places. Celebrity kids, they go do red carpets.



"And if I'm fly, and daddy's fly, then so is the kid. If I'm wearing Cha-nay-nay, my kid's having the same thing. It's not up to what the kids like. If it was the kids, they'd be outside in diapers.



"No, cause if I was looking like a bad b***h, expensive b***h, and I had my kid looking like a bum bum, then y'all would be talking s***. So, I'm not mad that daddy bought baby a Birkin. She gonna match mommy."



Watch the video below.

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Cardi B defends husband Offset after he was called out for gifting their 2-year-old daughter, Kulture, an expensive Birkin bag for her birthday.

Un post condiviso da Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial) in data: 16 Lug 2020 alle ore 1:30 PDT

I'm scared Messi could leave Barcelona due to club's board - Former Barca president Joan Laporta

Former Barcelona president, Joan Laporta has admitted he's "scared" star player Lionel Messi might leave the club due to the current board members that control affairs at the club.



Messi is contracted at Camp Nou until 2021 but there have been reports that he has issues with Barca's current president Josep Maria Bartomeu and other board members, with further reports indicating that the Argentine is considering his future at the club he has played for since the age of 12.



Bartomeu recently said Messi will re-sign and likely see out his career at Barcelona but Laporta has noted Barca's current board members could force their star into a corner and make him reconsider his future.



"I want him to stay in 2021 but I am scared that a bad decision of this board could result in an irreversible decision," Laporta said of Messi at an event at Sant Joan de Deu hospital on Wednesday.

"It's not BarcaGate, it's BartoGate, I am worried about how the status of the club is being put at risk."







Laporta, who wants to run for Barcelona president again, has also warned club legend Xavi against returning to manage the club until new board members are brought in.

"If I was Xavi, I would never be back with this board," Laporta said.

"Every day I have more desire to take part in the election. Some concrete conditions are needed for me to feel comfortable to run right now rather than resist for a few more years."



Speaking in May, Laporta revealed he'd love for Pep Guardiola to return and manage the club.

"I'm working to introduce myself as a presidential candidate," Laporta told TV3.

"I've been president before and I'm excited to be back. The situation in 2021 will be dramatic and we'll have to reverse it. I'm working with people I trust.

“I would very much like Guardiola to come back, but now he is at City and it is a decision that Pep should take. He is a benchmark for Barcelona and many Catalans would like him to train Barca again.

“At the right time, I will speak to the person we think should be Barca coach from 2021.”

Nigerian Professor, Charles Egbu appointed Vice Chancellor of UK University

A Nigerian Professor, Charles Egbu has been appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University.



The Anambra-born professor who will be assuming his new role on November 1, 2020, will be taking over from Margaret A House, the outgoing VC who had held the office for seven years.



Egbu who expressed excitement over his new appointment, said;




“I am honoured to be joining Leeds Trinity; a University whose values and ethos around widening participation, offering a personalised approach and encouraging all students to achieve their best, align with my own.

“The University has an impressive track record in learning, teaching and employability, and I am looking forward to building on the strong foundations established under the leadership of Professor House.

“I have already been impressed by the sense of community at Leeds Trinity and I am looking forward to engaging with students, colleagues and alumni as we shape the future strategy of the institution. I am also looking forward to returning to Leeds; the city in which I spent much of my early academic life.”



The Nigerian Professor has 25 years’ experience in higher education and was formerly the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Experience at the University of East London. He was also the Dean of the School of Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University and Head of the School of Built Environment at the University of Salford.



He held academic posts at University College London, Glasgow Caledonian University and Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan).



Egbu who has also written 12 books and contributed to more than 350 publications in various international journals and conferences with focus on project management, construction management and sustainable development, is a member of various external bodies including the Advance HE Pro Vice-Chancellor Network and QAA Panel of Experts.