The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering more than N115 billion and $84 million in outstanding statutory levies owed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by oil companies.
HURIWA said the recovery represents an important step towards ensuring that revenues meant for Niger Delta development are not lost through corporate non-compliance, negligence or deliberate evasion.
The group, however, urged the EFCC to go beyond recovering unpaid levies and investigate failed, abandoned and allegedly fraudulent NDDC projects.
HURIWA called for the investigation and prosecution of contractors and officials found to have collected mobilisation funds without delivering projects or who certified abandoned projects as completed.
“Recovering NDDC money from oil companies is only half of the job. The bigger responsibility is ensuring that recovered funds are deployed transparently for the benefit of the Niger Delta people.”
The association also commended the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, for its investigation of the 2021–2023 NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Reports.
HURIWA urged the committee to ensure that its investigations result in enforcement, recovery and sanctions rather than ending with hearings and reports.
The group further endorsed EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede’s warning to youths against internet fraud and get-rich-quick schemes, urging young Nigerians to pursue wealth through innovation, skills, enterprise and legitimate work.
HURIWA called for stronger collaboration among the EFCC, NDDC, NEITI and National Assembly to ensure recovered funds are properly accounted for and translated into visible development across the Niger Delta.
The association insisted that no contractor, company or public official found culpable should be shielded from prosecution.
Caption: EFCC Recovery: HURIWA Demands Prosecution of Failed NDDC Contractors