Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on Sunday explained why the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) was asked to vacate its office complex in the Mbora District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), named Digital Economy Complex.
It also denied claims by the Director General of the NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa that staff of the agency were kicked out of the complex by security operatives on the order of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
Pantami and Dabiri-Erewa had been engaged in a war of words over a recent interview with the NIDCOM DG had with SaharaReporters, where she alleged that the minister ordered security operatives to send members of staff of NIDCOM packing from the NCC complex.
Though Pantami denied the allegation, Dabiri-Erewa fired back with a video in a tweet, accusing the minister of not been truthful and declaring that his disdain for women was legendary.
The NCC, owners of the office complex however released a statement on Sunday, explaining that NIDCOM was asked to vacate the building while the formal opening of the office complex by President Muhammadu Buhari was being planned for, in line with demands for the security of the President and the event.
It further stated that the Diaspora Commission was also asked to leave because some departments of the NCC had to move to the new building because of congestion at the NCC headquarters.
The statement, issued by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media alleging that the Nigeria Diaspora Commission was ignominiously thrown out of the NCC building. It is therefore important that the general public is acquiesced with what really transpired with regard to the incident leading to the evacuation of the Diaspora Commission from the NCC building.
“Following the completion of the NCC building at Mbora, Abuja designated as NCC Annex and the acute shortage of accommodation space for the staff of the Commission in the NCC Head Office at Maitama, Abuja, the Board of the Commission directed the decongestion of the Head Office Building.
“Some of the Departments of the NCC had started moving to the new Office Complex of Five (5) Floors when discussions were held between the NCC and the Diaspora Commission to enable the Diaspora Commission also utilize any free Offices within the Complex. The fifth floor allocated to them had to be used to accommodate other Departments from the NCC Headquarters to ease the congestion. NCC’s offer to house the Nigeria Diaspora Commission 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 Ministry of Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMC&DE):
