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NDDC: We uncovered illegal spending of billions of naira as Commission refuses to submit budget performance – Reps
By Yemi Itodo
The Nigerian House of Representatives, on Tuesday, took swipes on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), describing it as a “corrupt” agency that has been engaging in “illegal and unauthorized spending”, to the tune of “billions of naira”. com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">
Spokesman of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, in a statement on Tuesday, also accused the NDDC of refusing to avail the National Assembly with the agency’s budget performance reports for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years.
Apparently responding to what it described as “an unhinged television interview” granted recently by the Executive Director in charge of Projects and Member of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of NDDC, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; the House lambasted the Commission for casting aspersions on its integrity and credibility.
Dr. Ojougboh was quoted in the said interview as accusing the Lawmakers of been responsible for the delay in passage of the NDDC budget; “vandalized” and “raped” the Commission’s 2019 budget and working against the ongoing forensic audit instituted by the Presidency recently; amongst other things.
But in its response, the House said, it has rather, been pushing the Commission to do the needful and render account to the Nigerian people.
“Section 18(1) of the NDDC (Establishment) Act mandates the Commission to, not later than 30 September in each year, submit to the National Assembly, its budget estimates for the following year. The House recalls that for more than 13 months after the time required by law, the Commission deliberately failed to submit its 2019 budget to the National Assembly for approval, choosing instead to engage in illegal and unauthorized spending to the tune of billions of naira.
“It took the intervention of the House, following a motion moved by Rep. Benjamin O. Kalu on November 26, 2019, to compel the Commission to present its 2019 budget”, the House explained.
Stressing further, the House recalled that, “on December 10, 2019, the date fixed for the budget defence, the Commission failed to appear with its 2018 budget performance report, a document critical to assessing its previous expenditures and approving its 2019 budget; as a result of which, the budget defence had to be stepped down.
“The Commission was only able to return with their budget performance report on February 5th, 2020 following which the House passed the 2019 budget 3 weeks after (February 27th, 2020)”.
The lower legislative House also stated that, “the negligence and/or deliberate mischief of the Commission has also frustrated all efforts by the National Assembly to expeditiously approve the Commission’s 2020 budget”, adding that, “till date, the Commission has refused to render an account of their 2019 budget expenditures to Nigerians”.
Contrary to the allegation of budget padding leveled by Ojougboh, the House said it was rather forced to cut down the budget estimates from ₦409bn to ₦345bn when it was discovered that the Commission’s projected expenditures were unrealistic, having exceeded their revenue source by ₦63bn.
“The House is also concerned by Dr. Ojougboh’s grave allegations attempting to indict President Muhammadu Buhari of influencing the 2019 NDDC budget by inserting the so called ‘President’s regional projects’. While we have a duty to remove any suspicious items identified in the budget, it must be stated that the House is not aware of any line items in the 2019 budget estimates bearing the name or indicating the personal interests of the President”, the statement further read.
On the forensic audit instituted by the Presidency, the House waved Ojougboh’s comment as “untrue” and “misleading”, saying, it has always expressed total support for the exercise, as approved by President Muhammad Buhari.
The House boasted of been responsible for adding a provision for the forensic audit in the 2019 budget after discovering that the Commission’s original budget estimates failed to include a line for the forensic audit.
“Echoing the sentiments of Nigerians, our only concern is as to the propriety of the appointment or supervision of the forensic auditors and also to ensure that any auditing process is done in accordance with the Constitution”, the statement added.
The House insisted that, a supervision of the auditing process by the IMC or any other subjects of the audit, “defeats the cardinal principle of natural justice, nemo judex in causa sua (no-one is judge in his own cause) and undermines the integrity of the investigation”.
It expressed continuous commitment to exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in any aspect of the government, as the Peoples’ Parliament, adding that, “our support for the forensic audit does not in any way silence or preclude our oversight mandate in Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) (as altered) as both arms of government must continue to work according to the principles of the doctrine of separation of power”.
The House also vowed to continue with its independent investigations, in order to be equipped with information in anticipation of the outcome of the forensic audit.
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“Stop This Slaughterhouse in Nigeria,” Catholic Secretariat Decries Rising Killings, Demands Urgent Action
By Abah Anthony John
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has strongly condemned the persistent wave of killings and abductions across the country, warning that Nigeria is descending into what it described as a “slaughterhouse” as violence continues unabated and citizens remain exposed to grave insecurity.
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In a statement titled “The Cry of the Innocent: Stop this Slaughterhouse in Nigeria!” dated February 7, 2026, the CSN expressed deep outrage and sorrow over what it called a renewed cycle of mass violence that has turned large parts of the country into “a field of grief.” The statement was signed by the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, and the National Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh.
According to the CSN, years of repeated complaints and assurances from authorities have failed to translate into meaningful protection for citizens, leaving communities devastated and Nigerians weary of condolences that do not guarantee their safety. “Violence persists unchecked,” the Church body said, describing the ongoing assault on human life and dignity as unacceptable and morally indefensible.
The Secretariat drew particular attention to the scale of attacks recorded between late January and February 2026, noting that the recurring carnage has become “a stain on the conscience of our nation.” It questioned how, outside a formal state of war, more than 160 innocent civilians could be killed in a single coordinated attack in Woro, Kwara State. The statement also highlighted repeated killings and abductions in Agwara and Tungan Gero in Niger State, the destruction of entire farming communities in Katsina and Kaduna states, and the persistent violence ravaging parts of Borno State.
“This is not ‘instability’ but a massacre allowed by silence and a betrayal of every Nigerian’s right to live in peace,” the CSN declared.
Beyond the immediate human toll, the Catholic body warned that the continued bloodshed represents a fundamental failure of governance. It reminded Nigeria’s leaders that the Constitution is “not a lofty document of ideals but a binding covenant with the people,” emphasizing that the protection of life is central to the legitimacy of any government.
“When citizens are slaughtered with impunity, and communities live in perpetual fear, the very foundation of governance is undermined,” the statement said, adding that a government unable to safeguard its people “risks diminishing its moral authority to lead.”
The CSN also cautioned against silence and inaction, arguing that failure to respond decisively to violence amounts to complicity. “Every unaddressed attack, every unpunished crime, and every unfulfilled promise deepens the wound of mistrust between the people and those entrusted with their protection,” it said, stressing that Nigeria must not normalize bloodshed or treat mass killings as routine tragedies.
Situating the crisis within a broader human rights framework, the Secretariat recalled that Nigeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which affirm the right to life as fundamental and non-negotiable. Despite these commitments, it lamented that “the state continues to treat this right as optional, allowing bloodshed to persist unchecked.”
In response, the Catholic Secretariat renewed its call on the Federal Government to urgently revisit and strengthen its security strategies. Among the measures proposed was the strategic redeployment of security personnel “from ceremonial press centers to the actual frontlines where citizens are under siege,” as well as a willingness to seek assistance “from anywhere it is safely available.”
The CSN further demanded accountability, urging authorities to identify, expose, and prosecute sponsors and enablers of terror regardless of their political, religious, or social status. “Arrest and punish every perpetrator of violence; for impunity is nothing less than a license for further bloodshed,” the statement warned.
The Church body also emphasized the need for compassion and restoration for victims of violence, calling for urgent relief, psychosocial care, and compensation for affected families. It urged the government to protect and rebuild destroyed communities in order to restore hope and dignity to displaced and traumatized residents.
Concluding its message, the Catholic Secretariat warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. “We cannot allow mass graves to define our national story,” it said, adding that “the blood of all innocent Nigerians cry out to heaven and their memory must compel us to act with sincerity, courage and compassion.”
The CSN called on political, religious, and community leaders to rise above divisions and work together to restore peace and dignity across the country, while urging Nigerians to reject hatred and violence and stand in solidarity with one another.
“As a people of faith, we entrust our nation to God’s mercy and pray for healing, justice, and reconciliation,” the statement concluded. “May the sacrifice of the innocent not be in vain, but inspire a renewed commitment to protect life and build a Nigeria where peace and justice reign.”
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Don Advocates Declaration of National Skills Emergency to Tackle Underdevelopment
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Professor of Political Economy at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Christian Ezeibe, has called on government at all levels to declare a ‘national skills emergency’ as a strategic response to Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment and widespread poverty.
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Prof. Ezeibe who is also Dean, Student Affairs at UNN made the call while delivering the convocation lecture at the 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
He stressed that Nigeria’s overemphasis on certificates at the expense of practical competence has weakened the country’s productive capacity and stifled sustainable development.
Speaking on the theme, “Skills Over Certificates: Repositioning Technical Education for Sustainable Development,” Prof. Ezeibe said Nigeria must urgently invest in skills acquisition if it hopes to compete with developed nations.
“Nigeria has perfected the ritual of schooling but has lost the essence of learning. We have become a nation that worships certificates while neglecting the competence those certificates are meant to represent,” he said.
Quoting figures from the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ezeibe noted that Nigeria spends over $10 billion annually on expatriate services and remittances, much of it paid to foreign technical personnel from India, China and the Philippines.
“In the power sector alone, despite billions of naira invested, we still depend on foreign technicians to maintain our turbines and grid infrastructure. This dependence is a clear indictment of our skills deficit,” he added.
The university don explained that while certificates merely certify knowledge, skills empower individuals to create value.
“A certificate is a licence to learn, but a skill is the capacity to do, to create and to solve problems. The global economy today, driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution—robotics, artificial intelligence, IoT and biotechnology—rewards demonstrable skills, not just attested knowledge,” he said.
Drawing lessons from global success stories, Prof. Ezeibe cited Singapore, Taiwan and China as countries that deliberately prioritised technical and vocational education.
“Under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore made Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the cornerstone of its economic strategy. The Institute of Technical Education is not for academic failures; it is prestigious and highly sought-after. Today, Singapore tops global skills competitiveness rankings,” he said.
He also noted that Taiwan’s transformation into a global semiconductor hub was driven by a relentless focus on engineering and technical skills aligned with industry needs, while China adopted a large-scale vocational model that produces millions of skilled workers annually.
“These nations understood a simple truth: theory designs the world, but skills build it. They repositioned technical education from a secondary alternative to the primary engine of national development,” Ezeibe stated.
Identifying Nigeria’s major challenges, the don listed decaying infrastructure, poor funding, weak industry–academia collaboration, societal stigma against technical education and brain drain** as factors slowing skills development.
Despite these challenges, he maintained that skills remain the backbone of sustainable development.
“Nigeria’s problems—power failure, poor sanitation, inefficient agriculture, housing deficit and insecurity—are massive markets waiting to be served by skilled and creative minds,” he said.
He urged graduates to see entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity.
“The graduate who can design and install affordable solar micro-grids for rural communities is solving the power problem and creating a million-naira business. The one with masonry, plumbing and electrical skills can build a thriving property maintenance company. The billionaire of tomorrow will be a skill magnate, not just an oil importer,” he declared.
Addressing the graduating students directly, Prof. Ezeibe advised:
“Do not go looking for a job where someone else will solve your problems. Use your skills to solve Nigeria’s problems, and you will never be poor.”
He further called on the Federal Government to scrap the HND–BSc dichotomy, insisting that competence, not paper qualification, should determine employability and career progression.
“There must be deliberate industrial collaboration with polytechnics and technical institutions. Without this, skills development will remain a slogan rather than a solution,” he concluded.
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PBAT Felicitates with Entrepreneur Matthew Tonlagha on 50th Birthday
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Matthew Tonlagha, on the occasion of his 50th birthday, describing the milestone as a celebration of impact, service, and commitment to national development.
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In a goodwill message dated February 2, 2026, and personally signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR from the State House, Abuja, and sighted by Informavores, the President joined Tonlagha’s family, friends, and associates in celebrating the golden jubilee, noting that attaining the age of 50 is a significant personal and professional milestone.
President Tinubu commended Tonlagha for marking the occasion with the unveiling of a book, describing the initiative as a reflection of his commitment to knowledge, intellectual growth, and documenting experiences for posterity.
“It is fitting that he is unveiling a book as part of the activities to mark his 50th birthday. I commend him for his pursuit of knowledge and chronicling for posterity,” the President said.
The President also acknowledged Tonlagha’s years of dedication to community development and nation building, particularly through his advocacy for the welfare and advancement of Niger Delta communities.
He praised Tonlagha, founder of Maton Engineering Limited, for his contributions to the protection and security of oil and gas infrastructure across several states in the Niger Delta, noting that such efforts are critical to national economic stability.
President Tinubu further encouraged the entrepreneur to sustain and expand his philanthropic initiatives, including support for education and medical services, the provision of scholarships, funding of skill acquisition programmes, and assistance to vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.
As Tonlagha celebrates his golden jubilee on February 8, the President wished him good health, renewed strength, and many more years of meaningful service and impact.
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