Conflicting NDDC Documents Trigger Confusion Over Cross River Empowerment Programme

CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – Fresh controversy has emerged over the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) empowerment programme in Cross River State after the commission issued a press statement disputing figures contained in an earlier internal memo after the programme had already been held.

The development has raised questions over transparency and internal coordination within the commission, as the rebuttal came only after beneficiaries had gathered for the exercise conducted on May 2 in Calabar.

An internal memo dated April 27, 2026, had informed the Cross River State representative on the NDDC Governing Board that 500 indigenes would benefit from a Skill Acquisition and Capacity Enhancement Programme, while 150 mini-buses and 200 Keke NAPEP were scheduled for distribution to beneficiaries across the state.

Signed by the Director of Commercial and Industrial Development, Lyn Okara Esq., the memo fixed the skill acquisition programme for 9 a.m. at Channel View Hotel, while the empowerment distribution was scheduled for 2 p.m. at the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

The memo stated that the event was designed to promote “capacity building, economic empowerment and sustainable support for participants within the target communities.”

However, following the conclusion of the programme, the NDDC Cross River State Office released a press statement discrediting the circulated figures.

“The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Cross River State Office, has been drawn to a circulating message falsely claiming that the Commission has allocated a total of 150 Keke NAPEP and 200 Mini Buses as a statewide empowerment programme exclusively designated for all Cross Riverians,” the statement said.

The commission further declared that the information was “misleading and inaccurate.”
It explained that the intervention was being undertaken “pursuant to budgetary provisions facilitated by the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District.”

According to the statement, “the final number of items to be distributed is still being determined, subject to supply considerations,” adding that “figures currently in circulation are speculative and should be disregarded.”

The commission also noted that the programme “is being implemented in collaboration with other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and is not an exclusive initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission.”

The timing of the clarification has, however, triggered concern, with observers questioning why a disclaimer was issued only after the event had already taken place based on the details contained in the earlier memo.

The conflicting positions have created uncertainty over what was actually approved, what was eventually distributed, and whether the figures announced before the programme reflected official planning.

Stakeholders say the post-event rebuttal leaves critical questions unanswered, particularly regarding the exact number of items distributed and why an internal communication carrying precise figures and schedules was later publicly contradicted.

The controversy has also intensified scrutiny over the management of official communication within the commission.

While the internal memo conveyed certainty with specific allocations and logistics, the subsequent public statement introduced ambiguity by insisting the figures were yet to be finalized.

The NDDC urged the public to rely only on verified information released through official channels and reaffirmed its commitment to “transparency, equitable development, and impactful economic empowerment initiatives across all communities in Cross River State and the Niger Delta region.”

As of press time, the commission had yet to clarify whether the items distributed at the May 2 programme matched the figures initially announced in the internal memo.