N336m Tax Fraud, Failed Projects:
It is not the best of times for the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Obong Nsima Ekere as Bayelsa youths have vowed to drag him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for tax evasion, project abandonment and gross negligence of the state since his appointment a year ago.
Coming under the aegis of "Coalition of Concerned Youths of Bayelsa State," they lamented that the NDDC boss, Nsima Ekere has deviated from the mandate given to the commission and has allowed his governorship political ambition in Akwa Ibom becloud his judgment of true development.
"We reject totally his attempt to divert resources of NDDC to serve his political ambition in his home state Akwa Ibom but fail to address issues bothering on the development of Bayelsa state and the welfare of our people."
They accused the NDDC under Mr Ekere of tax evasion to the tune of N336.17million meant to be returned to the coffers of the Bayelsa state government as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
They faulted NDDC of collecting taxes from her staff in Bayelsa without remitting same to the Internal Revenue service, IRS.
The youths bemoaned the lies which the commission has traded with development of the area, mentioning that Ekere's tenure has left in its wake many abandoned projects in Bayelsa.
The Bayelsan youths also revealed plots by Ekere to "re-award some juicy contracts to his cronies and unilaterally cancel over N200 billion projects to accommodate his political allies.
"We find it disgusting and insulting, lies told by Mr. Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of NDDC, that the commission is transforming to serve better when in reality Bayelsa State is yet to benefit from any road project as promised.
"None of the roads is constructed even the protracted 25.7kilometere Ogbia- Nembe road, which connects more than 14 communities and has great economic significance to our people, has been abandoned to become a dead trap for our travelers at night."
They expressed displeasure over the manner the commission has carpeted issues concerning infrastructure development, youth empowerment, social welfare and security of the people of Olobiri; a community with a history of being the first oil producing area in Nigeria.
It will be recalled that sometime this year the NDDC office in Bayelsa was shut down by personnel of the IRS for non-remittance of taxes collected from her staff.
Only last week, Ekere had snubbed all advise and went ahead to inaugurate his 2019 campaign group, known as ONE Frontiers. ONE an acronym for Obong Nsima Ekere is headed by Prof Etok Ekanem, a former commissioner for Agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.
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