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NEDC and Alkali’s unassailable posture
By Adamu Adamu
It appears that journalism has been thrown to the dogs in Nigeria with the array of disjointed publications that we are subjected to every passing hour. It gets to the point that one of the worse nightmares one might experience is having to go through some supposed news mediums.
In this ignoble category is Sahara Reporters, which can best be described as a platform for blackmail and sale to the highest bidder. To start with, Omoyele Sowore, its publisher, is reputed for using his medium as an avenue to extort gullible victims. This is aside from the fact that there is no record anywhere where it was stated that he studied journalism or cut his teeth with any reputable news medium.
The best of him was that he studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995, with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. That is the ABCD of Omoyele Sowore and Sahara reporters.
I am writing this piece in reference to a story published by Sahara Reporters with the caption “North-East Development Commission Managing Director, Alkali in Alleged Multi-Billion Naira Corruption Scandal”, quoting a group named North East Vanguard.
After reading the news story, I almost puked with the way and manner such gibberish was put out for public consumption and without recourse to the sensibilities of some of us from North-East Nigeria, and also conversant with the operations of the North East Development Commission.
As a start, the group North East Vanguard is a shadowy one promoted by a group of nonentities, that is, if they truly exist. Consequently, their submission reads more like tales by moonlight because of the litany of incoherency. The group claimed to have unearthed massive corruption involving billions of naira at the NEDC.
They took their idiocy further by stating that “The Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, takes home as monthly salary, N8.5 million without recourse to the Salaries and Wages Commission, apart from a whopping N300 million as running cost for his office per annum.”
I was stunned that I wonder which of the Mohammed Goni Alkali they were referring to in their submission. I consoled myself that maybe it was another Mohammed Goni Alkali and not the one that heads the NEDC. I said to myself that it must have been a case of mistaken identity or outright mischief.
I think both could suffice in this case because it remains a figment of the imagination with other wild allegations that reads more like a poorly written Nollywood script. And I am not surprised the group could find a willing collaborator in Sahara Reporters to churn out their illusions about the operations of the NEDC under Mohammed Goni Alkali.
To put it mildly, the shadowy group merely rehashed the propaganda published by some disgruntled politicians sometime back, who felt entitled to the finances of the NEDC meant for humanitarian interventions, and since they could not have their way, they went berserk.
I trust Alkali not to respond to gibberish, which has been his posture in over a decade that I have known him. However, I elected to send a message through this piece to those who think Alkali succumbs to blackmail. My question is, do they even know who Mohammed Goni Alkali is? I don’t think so because if they knew who he is in terms of character and posture, they would try another customer willing to play ball.
Instructively, as close as some of us are to him, we know the limits in terms of asking for favours that would make him bend the rules or subvert the process. We also know that once our request goes against the common good, it is dead on arrival, and as such, we do not bother to even make such requests in the first place.
I can’t count the number of persons he has cut ties with for daring to ask for favours that undermine the objectives of the NEDC. I am sure some of these persons are behind the slander campaign. And to think they can link hi, Alkali to corrupt practice is almost laughable. The corruption toga doesn’t fit him because all of his years in private and public service, he has remained aloft as a stickler for upholding what is right and detesting what isn’t right. And his leadership of the NEDC is not an exception.
Some of us are aware of how he has been managing the affairs of the NEDC and constantly put him in our prayers for God to see him through the onerous task of leading the implementation of the developmental blueprint for the North-East geo-political zone that had been ravaged by over a decade of insurgency.
The promoters of North East Vanguard must realize that this is a tough nut to crack. It would be in their best interest to desist from further malicious enterprise targeted at tarnishing the image of Mohammed Goni Alkali. They should instead channel their resources to more charitable ventures that would serve good to humanity.
And my candid advice to Mohammed Goni Alkali is that the threat is real, and he must not get distracted by their shenanigans. He must maintain focus with his eyes on the ball in his characteristic manner. This is not a time for distractions. If the so-called North-East Vanguard has any documentary evidence, they should do well to present it to the general public and not crying wolf where none exist.
Adamu is a development researcher and wrote from Yola.
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NDDC At 25: Cross River’s Cynthia Oloko, 19, Emerges Second Place Winner At Miss Niger Delta 2025
...Deputy Governor, APC Chairman, and Senators Celebrate Her with Generous Cash Gifts
Miss Cynthia Iyowogoga Oloko, a 19-year-old from Cross River State, has emerged as the first runner-up (second place) at the Miss Niger Delta 2025 beauty pageant. The event, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Cynthia, a final-year student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she studies Human Anatomy, competed alongside nine other contestants representing the nine states of the Niger Delta—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
Crowned with the title “Pride of the Niger Delta”, Cynthia received a cash prize of ₦7.5 million for placing second in the pageant.
In recognition of her achievement and the pride she has brought to Cross River State, several political leaders and dignitaries extended their support. The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Dr Peter Odey, gifted her ₦3 million, the APC State Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Esq., JP, contributed ₦1 million, while the state’s two Senators jointly supported her with another ₦3 million—bringing her total cash reward to ₦14.5 million.
According to the organisers, all nine contestants underwent intensive training and were empowered with skills and starter kits to help them become self-reliant and impactful in their communities.
The Miss Niger Delta pageant is designed not just as a beauty contest, but as a platform to empower young women across the region. It aims to nurture leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development among participants. The initiative is rooted in the belief that empowering women is key to building stronger families, communities, and society at large.
Many past participants have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and community leaders. The programme, sponsored by the NDDC, is part of its commitment to identifying and nurturing young talents in the region.
This year’s overall winner received a brand-new car and ₦10 million, while the second runner-up (third place) received ₦5 million. The remaining six contestants each received ₦1 million as a consolation prize.
Miss Cynthia Oloko was born in 2005 to Engr. and Mrs Cosmas Oloko Ekawu. She attended Trailblazers Academy in Gwarinpa, Abuja. Her hobbies include swimming, running, networking, and travelling. She aspires to build a career in entrepreneurship and politics, with a strong passion for leadership and community development.
Congratulations Miss Cynthia
The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State, Hon Dr Fred Okem has dissolved all revenue agencies operating in the Council with effect from 31st December 2024.
Hon Dr Fred Okem, Chairman Yala Local Government Area
This was contained in a release on Monday 6th January 2025 by the Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Unah.
The Chairman also cautioned that anyone who flouts the directive would be handed over to the security agencies for proper action in line with relevant laws.
The local government helmsman is expected to reposition the revenue agencies with the aim of boosting internally generated revenue in the council for adequate measures towards the development of Yala in line with the People First Agenda of the State government.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Ms. Grace Ike, has been named Nigeria’s Media Personality of the Year 2024. This prestigious recognition was conferred by the Editorial Board of Good Governance Today Nigeria at a grand ceremony held at the National Merit House, Abuja.
NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike
In addition to the honour, Ms. Ike was inducted into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame—a testament to her exemplary contributions to leadership and professional journalism in Nigeria.
The award acknowledges Ms. Ike’s uncommon leadership qualities and her unwavering commitment to advancing journalism as a tool for national development. Her selfless service to humanity, her state and the nation has made her a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
Speaking at the event, the organiser and the managing editor of Governance Today , mr Sylvester Abudu Omose commended Ms. Ike’s visionary leadership and her remarkable strides in reshaping the landscape of journalism in Nigeria. Her relentless dedication to using journalism to advocate for transparency, justice, and public enlightenment was described as both inspiring and transformative.
“Ms. Grace Ike’s achievements transcend the ordinary. She has redefined what it means to serve humanity through journalism. Her work exemplifies the power of the media in fostering societal progress and governance,” the board stated.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Ike represented by one of her media aides, mr Ademola Adepoju expressed her gratitude for the recognition and attributed her success to the collective efforts of her team at NUJ FCT Council and the support of stakeholders in the journalism community. She reiterated her commitment to promoting ethical journalism and upholding the values of truth, accountability, and service to humanity.
“This award is not just a recognition of my efforts but a call to do even more. Journalism is the lifeline of democracy, and we must continue to use it to uphold justice and transparency for the betterment of our society,” Ms. Ike remarked.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the media, government and civil society, who lauded Ms. Ike’s achievements and pledged continued support for initiatives that promote good governance and ethical journalism in Nigeria.
As Ms. Grace Ike steps into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame, her legacy as a leader, journalist, and advocate for humanity continues to inspire a new generation of professionals committed to making a difference in their communities and the nation at large.
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