Ogoni Youths Federation, OYF, has written the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, demanding a list of beneficiaries of the N100 million released by the commission to Niger Delta youths as COVID-19 palliatives.
The letter addressed to Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, the acting managing director of the commission and signed by Comrade Yamaabana Legborsi, President-General of OYF, also sought names, States of Origin, local government areas and other necessary particulars of the beneficiaries.
Other information demanded by the youth body includes the sum spent on each of the beneficiaries; the total sum spent on the program; list of all those that benefitted from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State containing their names and local government of origin, and the unspent sum, the bank account wherefrom the unspent sum is domiciled and the signatories thereof.
The letter read in parts: “Pursuant to sections 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information Act. 2011 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we the Ogoni Youths drawn from the seven (7) Kingdoms which form the constituent unit of the Ogoni Nation, that is; Nyo-Khana, Ken-Khana, Babbe, Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Bori-Central representing the four Local Government Area of Ogoniland write to request for information regarding the 100 Million Naira released by Niger Delta Development Commission to Niger Delta Youths as a palliative for COVID-19 pandemic
“Ogoni youth Federation wish to draw your attention to section (4) of the Act which requires that you provide this information within seven (7) days of the receipt of this request.
“In the event of refusal to grant this request, you are required under the Act to state the reason(s) and have full names and destination of the officer(s) responsible for such a decision. In any case, as a responsible government agency, we are hopeful that our lawful request would be complied with timeously.
“TAKE NOTICE that, where after the expiration of seven days of the receipt of this letter and the above request is not granted as required under the Act, we shall mobilize our rank and file and proceed with a plethora of actions including to initiate a civil action seeking adequate reliefs under the Act compelling your commission to comply with the provisions of the law and amongst others”.
