Cairo Ojougboh, executive director of projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says in the past, getting a contract at the agency is like winning a lottery.

The agency is currently in the eye of the storm over a series of corruption allegations being investigated by the national assembly.

In an interview with Arise Television, Ojougboh accused the past management of the commission of being responsible for deep-seated corruption in NDDC.

He said the agency could award a project of N700 million to a contractor and it would be executed with just N10 million.

“Between 2016 and 2019, emergency contracts of over N2 trillion were awarded under the supervision of the chairmen of both committees,” Ojugboh said in the interview he granted in May.

“The chairman of senate committee collected one thousand of those jobs and said he was going to give it to the senate. The records are there. The 1,000 contracts were collected by a man called Nelson Agbamuche on behalf of the senate.

“The immediate crisis that came was as a result of the budget. How did the budget run into a problem? It was in 2016. The bureaucracy told us when we came in that there was no budget from 2016 to 2018. The budget for 2019 was just passed some few days ago. What led to it?

“A chairman of senate in 2015 called the bureaucracy that they need to include for him a N15 billion project in the budget. The bureaucracy said it was fair enough, went behind and worked it out. When they came back, the chairman said I didn’t say N15 billion. I said N150 billion.

“The bureaucracy went back and they couldn’t comply because there was no way they could do that. The chairman went back to the bureaucracy asking them to award emergency contracts without due process. That was how the emergency procedures were breached and the commission now has a commitment of over N3 trillion. How can this continue?

“We were no paying as they used to. So, the contractors are very angry. Normally, once you have a contract in NDDC, it is like you have won a lottery. A contract that they will award for you in NDDC for N700 million, you can use N10 or N20 million to do it.”

Speaking before the house of representatives committee probing the commission on Monday, Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, said most of the contracts awarded by the NDDC are given to national assembly members.

https://www.thecable.ng/cairo-ojougboh-in-the-past-getting-nddc-contracts-was-like-winning-lottery-n700m-project-could-be-executed-with-n10m/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Cc:Mynd44, OAM4J

The greatest problem we have in this country is the National Assembly

We use to think the NNPC, Customs and Internal Revenue are the most currupt organizations.
But obviously it is now very apparent that the National Assembly is the headquarters of curruption in this country

The current state of NDDC is indicative of the status of other Ministries and Departments in Nigeria right now. 

It is just mind boggling that this has been allowed to almost become a generational thing. 15 Billion properly spent will touch all our lives on this forum, that's how much we've been robbed. 

I know people right now with business ideas that need less than 1 million but that can employ at least 4 Nigerians. Think of the ripple effect if such people were empowered without the crippling burden of interest from banks. 

Things really do need to change

Jamesz12:
The greatest problem we have in this country is the National Assembly

We use to think the NNPC, Customs and Internal Revenue are the most currupt organizations.
But obviously it is now very apparent that the National Assembly is the headquarters of curruption in this country

You mean those law breakers makers?

RentedReality:
H

This one you are booking space shey e never too early so

SweetiliciousD:


You mean those law breakers makers?

Sometimes I don't even know what's really our problem??
Why is it that almost every sector of Nigeria is not working??

By the time this forensic audit comes out no be only mic we go off oo

Gr8amechi:

This one you are booking space shey e never too early so

You never know when the front page train departs, early seats are encouraged

Those figures are giving headache. Nigeria is handsomely rich. Imagine what They've(politicians, army and citizens) been stealing since second republic till date!

A chairman of senate in 2015 called the bureaucracy that they need to include for him a N15 billion project in the budget. The bureaucracy said it was fair enough, went behind and worked it out. When they came back, the chairman said I didn’t say N15 billion. I said N150 billion.

See corruption!

The problem with Nigeria is that Nigerians populate the place.

ThatFairGuy1:
Those figures are giving headache. Nigeria is handsomely rich. Imagine what They've(politicians, army and citizens) been stealing since second republic till date!

Sometimes I just imagine that those figures are not real but these is reality, how can a nation be this rich yet we have very poor population??.

How can a region be this blessed yet majority of the villages don't have portable drinking water??

Gr8amechi:

Sometimes I just imagine that those figures are not real but these is reality, how can a nation be this rich yet we have very poor population??.

How can a region be this blessed yet majority of the villages don't have portable drinking water??

Very sad. That's what happens when there is too much billionaires in a country. the margin is too much

ThatFairGuy1:

Very sad. That's what happens when there is too much billionaires in a country. the margin is too much

If they can use just 50% of these fund to build infrastructure we not be in this sorry state but nope, they rather use all 100% for their selfish aims

Dr Cairo that was alledged to have paid money for students scholarship into his personal account while students on scholarship are suffering is blowing hot , imagine the effrontery, it can only be in Nigeria. In sane climes Cairo Should be in jail by now. Cairo is a born thief, whose only aim in NDDC is to loot. 81billion gone in 4 months with no visible project and then your priority is past leaders while you are presently worse. I thank God for wisdom of Joy Nunieh not to succumb to the looters theatrics.

The truth is NDDC management are actually heartless oo, embezzling public funds without conscience

The truth must be uncovered. Nigerians are waiting.

Gr8amechi:

Sometimes I just imagine that those figures are not real but these is reality, how can a nation be this rich yet we have very poor population??.

How can a region be this blessed yet majority of the villages don't have portable drinking water??

Most of those oil communities do not have primary schools, health centres or portable water (not even bore holes ), and yet someone will tell me our problems are caused by northerners.

Cairo Ojougboh, is getting a contract today different?

Why do you love criticise others when you know that you are not a saint

Is there any difference between the past board and the present board that you are a major player.

You are all criminals

Benite:
Dr Cairo that was alledged to have paid money for students scholarship into his personal account while students on scholarship are suffering is blowing hot , imagine the effrontery, it can only be in Nigeria. In sane climes Cairo Should be in jail by now. Cairo is a born thief, whose only aim in NDDC is to loot. 81billion gone in 4 months with no visible project and then your priority is past leaders while you are presently worse. I thank God for wisdom of Joy Nunieh not to succumb to the looters theatrics.

In saner climes they do not have the "he is our brothers or she is our sister" syndrome. In saner climes, they do not also have "it's our turn" syndrome.

It's not surprising at all that the Nigerian Parliament is the corruption center of the world, if they could jostle and allocates to themselves job placement slots, then little wonder, their names is always on anything that has corruption tag.
In Nigerian, if you're a job seeker and you don't have a HOR member or a Sinator letter to back your job application, you're merely wasting your precious time.

wirinet:

Most of those oil communities do not have primary schools, health centres or portable water (not even bore holes ), and yet someone will tell me our problems are caused by northerners.

It's just terrible to say the lest

Niaja4real:
It's not surprising at all that the Nigerian Parliament is the corruption center of the world, if they could jostle and allocates to themselves job placement slots, then little wonder, their names is always on anything that has corruption tag.
In Nigerian, if you're a job seeker and you don't have a HOR member or a Sinator letter to back your job application, you're merely wasting your precious time.

Why narrow it down to the Nigerian parliament? Is corruption not disease of the general Nigerian society? Our traditional institutions, churches and even families free of corruption? Are most parents not supporting their children to engage in corrupt activities?

Let those found culpable in this criminal dealings which I believe the forensic audit will reveal be dealt with seriously. Nonsense!
This is the highest level of criminality

We happen to live in a very corrupt society but very soon the truth will prevail

It is a pity!!!

The national assembly is our problem on this country

Please who will buy this country and give me my share??

wirinet:

Most of those oil communities do not have primary schools, health centres or portable water (not even bore holes ), and yet someone will tell me our problems are caused by northerners.

Look at the amount quoted to be used for that purpose

BlackfireX:
Please who will buy this country and give me my share??

Be like them done sell am already we no quick know ooo