The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has denied the allegation that it forcefully ejected staff of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NDC) from the NCC new building complex in Abuja.
It would be recalled that a video circulating on the social media had alleged that the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NDC) was thrown out of the NCC building, with the DG of NDC, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, saying that the removal of her Commission from the building was punitive.
In a statement issued on Sunday, and signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, the commission explained what transpired with regard to the incident leading to the evacuation of the Diaspora Commission from the NCC building.
He said the fifth floor allocated to NDC had to be used to accommodate other departments from the NCC Headquarters to ease the congestion.
“NCC’s offer to house the NDC was predicated on the long-held position of the NCC that agencies of government will achieve more through strategic collaboration, partnership, synergy and sharing to the extent allowed by relevant laws.
“During this period, the NCC secured approval for the commissioning of the Office Complex by the President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari and the launching of four important projects of the NCC and the renamed Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMC&DE):
“The projects include the launching and unveiling of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025; the commissioning of the Communications and Digital Economy Complex; the launching of the Emergency Communications Centre and Toll-Free number 112; and flag-off of the Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training.
“The NCC has not withdrawn the offer but had hiccups arising from the preparation for the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Communications and Digital Economy Complex and launch of other projects relating to the mandate of government.
Dr. Nkemadu said the Board and Management of the NCC took a decision to ensure that every activity in the building was in line with the Federal Government’s digital agenda.
“Incidentally, after the offer of the office spaces to the NDC, the Director General, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa had not visited the Complex to take possession of any of the offices and also the Commission had not started using any of these spaces as offices.
“As is usual in ensuring security and accountability before, during and after presidential visits, the building had to be cleared to allow for only known and identifiable persons to have access within the Complex. Therefore, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, could not have sent armed men to drive the staff of the Diaspora Commission out of the Communications and Digital Economy Complex.”
He said at this time, only NCC staff were accredited to have access within this premises, as required by the security officials, noting that all the properties belonging to the Diaspora Commission are safely warehoused in some of the offices in the Complex.