Nigerian Twitter has been flung into debates over the recent update on the Senate investigation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over the alleged 40 billion naira corruption levied against the sect.

The Senate had, in May, set up a seven-man ad-hoc committee to investigate the financial recklessness of the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, Daniel Pondei. While new lights are being shed into the investigation, Pondei has shared that the NDDC had used a total of N1.5bn as COVID-19 palliative for members of the NDDC – his claims have sparked the Nigerian Twitter community who are currently sharing their views on the issue.

We Used N1.5bn To Take Care Of Ourselves As COVID-19 Palliative, Says NDDC MD, Pondei | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/FhrfJ9cBOS

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 9, 2020

The lawmakers raised concerns over the spending at the NDDC, noting that the commission spent N40bn in the last three months without due process. Their claims sparked outrage as many people are sharing that appropriate authority take up the case and ensure justice is served in full course.

NDDC is just a Cesspool of Corruption

— Dr Dave (@Doprime) July 10, 2020

Shutdown the country or stop arresting fraudsters cos our govt are the biggest fraudsters. They say anything they want and we rant on Twitter that’s the end #NDDC

— Mr Seed?‍ (@suogold1) July 10, 2020

So NDDC did some uncommon spending of N40bn within three months of #COVID19 #TotalLockdown.. ? ? ?

That's some Hushpuppi kinna shit right there..

I keep saying it that NDDC is just a ministry created to loot Niger Delta Crude oil money openly.

— ? Obong Ekpe ??? (@Ody_johnson) July 10, 2020

So according to NDDC, they spent N1.5bn to take care of themselves as COVID-19 relief.

And N3.1 billion was spent as COVID-19 funds between October 2019 and May 2020.

Nothing shocks me in this country again, because we already know that this country na wetin??

— Benue Breed? (@oyimzy) July 10, 2020

This is really absurd, for him to come out boldly to make such statement, "we're NDDC, we need to take care of ourselves too", shows how deep corruption has infested into our leaders, for Christ sake, your monthly take-home already can take care of a big village. https://t.co/aArwL7sn2M

— Tonye Motispot (@Tonye_Ayiba) July 10, 2020

NDDC officials shared 1,5bn among themselves as Covid19 palliative & gave police 475 million to buy face mask & sanitizers. Meanwhile expired loaves of bread were hurled at people in Delta state. Niggerareans are really cursed beyond redemption. @MaziNnamdiKanu, @Amaka_Ekwo https://t.co/m8It6bZpTM

— James Ifeanacho (@James12594123) July 9, 2020

And NDDC staff got at least 1m each as #COVID19 palliatives, inside this same Nigeria
This life no just balance sha

— Captain Kunle Shobo (@ROS1609) July 10, 2020

Stressing the need for justice, others pointed out that corruption has eaten deep in the minds of Nigerian politicians as they stressed that a sect that was supposed to look after the few selected in their region has failed all for selfish gains. These ones also drew attention on similar cases where funds have been mismanaged by other sectors of the country.

Niger Deltans will spend all day talking about how the North steals their OYEL money to the disadvantage of the South.

But they rarely talk about how elites from the Niger Delta also loot the OYEL money when given the opportunity

Anyway,NDDC spent N81 Billion in just Six Months

— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) July 9, 2020

NDDC: Every agency, every parastatal, every individual in this govt are just exploiting every opportunity to take their portions from the cookie jar as much as possible before Buhari leaves in 2023.

He's unaware of anything.

— Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar) July 9, 2020

The MD of the sect, Pondei, however, stressed that the members of the senate hijacked 1000 of 2900 budgets for emergency funds, a point which further stress on the opinion of many that every party involved in the fraud investigation is a suspect.

Watch how NDDC Accuses nigerian senators of hijacking 1000 of 2900 budgets for emergency funds, everywhere irks of rotten/sharp practices in this country. Why can't we be proactive in dealing with our problem. Instead of always chasing shadows pic.twitter.com/TIOo8A9vpq

— Bad choices (@Just2win3) July 9, 2020

Drawing attention on how the money had been allegedly looted even before the first recorded case of the coronavirus in Nigeria, many Nigerians are also accusing the sect for its incapabilities as many have shared how the NDDC has failed Nigerians.

NDDC officials shared 1,5bn among themselves as Covid19 palliative & gave police 475 million to buy face mask & sanitizers. Meanwhile expired loaves of bread were hurled at people in Delta state. Niggerareans are really cursed beyond redemption. @MaziNnamdiKanu, @Amaka_Ekwo https://t.co/m8It6bZpTM

— James Ifeanacho (@James12594123) July 9, 2020

NDDC Senate Investigation:
N3.1 billion was spent as COVID-19 funds between October 2019 &May 2020@NCDCgov wait ooooo. I thought all these started in late December 2019 at China not even here. And u had started spending on the matter since Oct? even Devil is afraid of u #NCDC

— ADESINA ADEDOYIN (@Paulothedon3) July 10, 2020

NDDC started fighting COVID-19 even before it manifested in Wuhan.

Fear some Nigerian Civil servants, fear them.

— One.acre says Free Dadiyata (@NekkaSmith) July 10, 2020

The NDDC MD, however, in his defence has shared that they (NDDC) as much as anyone else, need the palliative which was even distributed amongst members and stakeholders as he told the Senate: “We used it (N1.5bn) to take care of ourselves. We are NDDC, we need to take care of ourselves too.”

The NDDC as a government agency is submerged in this corruption allegation even with the amount of money being accused of them. In light of many issues that should be considered issues of national urgency, doctors going on strike and nonpayment of hazard allowances, the dying education sector, this update is quite worrisome on the extent corruption has wrecked many very important things and ideas aimed at bettering the lives of Nigerians home and abroad.