From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Against claims by staff of Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, NDBDA , on alleged embezzlement of a sum of N1. 5bn meant for Songhai farm project, the Managing Director of the Authority, Engr Tonye David West has denied that his led leadership embezzlled the said fund.
The Staff of the Authority in,conjuntion with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC had on Monday protested at the Aba/Port Harcourt road office of NDBDA office over an allegation of embezzlement of N1.5bn being a total sum of three instalmental payment of N500,000,000 each for the establishment of Songhai farm project.
The protesters had expressed sadness over what they described as the poor attitude of the management of the River Basin over the establishment of Songhai farm in the three states
The staff protested in their different placards with various inscriptions, ‘No Songhai No Management in NDBDA’, ‘No Tenure Elongation for Management,’ ‘NDBDA staff need Forensic Audit, and other others had around 8:00am locked the entrance gate to the authority barring management staff access into the premises.
Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of the Labour Union in the branch of the River Basin, Comrade (Mrs) Ifiemi Goodness said: “We are on this protest today because of the misconduct of the management of this Rivers Basin. We want our Songhai Model Farm that was allocated to this built.
“Songhai farm was approved for this Basin since 2017, but unfortunately, the project is no where to be found even when the Federal Government has fully paid for it.
“Other River Basins already have their Songhai farms running, but, we don’t have it even when has been paid and is still being paid for its annually.
“We want the management to tell us where our Songhai farm is. Else, we are calling on ICPC, (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) to come and investigate this Basin.”
Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, branch of the Authority, Comrade (Mrs) Ifiemi Goodness said the staff embarked on the protest because the alleged misconduct of the management as it concern Songhai Farm
“Songhai farm was approved for this Basin since 2017, but unfortunately, the project is no where to be found even when the Federal Government has fully paid for it.
Meanwhile, in his reaction to the allegations, the Managing Director of the Authority, Engr Tonye David West said that the Authority under his leadership did not receive such amount of money.
He said that for the past four years he has been in office the Authority has not receive more than N200m for the Songhai farm.
Engr David -West said that the Authority acquired about 56 plots of land at Abalama in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers for its demostration farm saying that the project was stalled because of communal interference.
He said that the Authority acquired large plots of land at Kpo in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers state where it established fish and plantain farm.
He further said that the Authority has also moved to Delta and Bayelsa states where it has set up offices for the take off of the farm.
“They are ignorant of the workings of NDBDA. Since I assumed office four years ago we have not receive more than N200m for the Songhai farm project. The project have not been funded with more than N200m. We acquired 56 plots of land in Abalama in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers state. We have moved to Kpo community in Tai Local Government Area of the state where we grow fish and cultivate plantain in large expense of land. The mandate of Songhai is to train graduates on how to farm and help them to create market for them to market the farm products,” said.
He accused the staff members of being used by some individuals to blackmail his office.
He said: “I think they are ignorant or someone is feeding them with wrong information. They know they truth. Songhai farm project is for the purpose of training farmers and creating jobs and not a village as they claim.
“I believe they are sponsored by some ED’s whom their three tenure elapsed and they were expecting miracle from me, which is not possible because I have integrity and would maintain discipline”.
