The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovering more than N115 billion and $84 million in outstanding statutory levies owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by oil companies.
The rights group, however, says recovering the money should not be the end of the investigation. HURIWA wants the EFCC to trace contractors who received billions of naira for NDDC projects but allegedly failed to execute them, abandoned them after collecting public funds or delivered work that did not match the amounts paid.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA described the recovery as an important step towards protecting funds meant for development in the Niger Delta. It also praised the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, for examining the 2021–2023 NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit Reports and demanding answers from companies with outstanding obligations.
The EFCC told the committee that it investigated 43 oil companies, with 24 found to have outstanding liabilities while 19 were cleared. The affected companies were initially found to owe N76.88 billion and $81.08 million.
According to the figures presented, some companies subsequently paid N6.71 billion and $16.99 million directly to the NDDC, while the EFCC released N73.37 billion and $67.07 million in recovered funds to the commission. HURIWA said the figures should trigger questions about why such substantial statutory obligations remained unpaid for years.
Onwubiko argued that the people of the Niger Delta should see recovered funds translated into actual development, particularly in a region facing environmental damage, poverty, unemployment and infrastructure deficits. He said recovering NDDC funds was only part of the responsibility and that authorities must ensure the money is transparently used for its intended purpose.
HURIWA specifically called for an investigation into contractors who collected mobilisation payments but never started projects, abandoned projects after receiving funds or executed work that was allegedly inconsistent with the amount paid. The group wants investigators to follow the money through the NDDC project chain and identify those responsible for uncompleted roads, schools and water projects.
The rights organisation also called for scrutiny of procurement procedures, contract variations, mobilisation payments, completion certificates and payments linked to abandoned projects. It said contractors and public officials found culpable should face arrest and prosecution regardless of their political influence or connections.
HURIWA warned that legislative investigations would have little impact if they ended with hearings and reports without enforcement, sanctions or recovery. It also urged the NDDC to publish details of recovered funds and explain clearly how the money is being deployed, arguing that residents of the Niger Delta deserve visible development from the region’s oil wealth.
