NDDC alerts public of scammers offering fake agric loan
The management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has alerted members of the public, especially those in Bayelsa and Rivers states of the activities of scammers offering non-existent agricultural cooperative loans.
The commission in a statement, said it was compelled to alert the public following several reports it received from some victims in Bayelsa state who were deceived into believing that the NDDC was currently running an agricultural loan scheme for which they were being asked to pay N6,000 as processing fees.
The statement which was signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the Commission, Mr. Charles Odili, revealed that criminals who claimed to be representing officials of the agriculture and fisheries directorate of the NDDC, went to the length of demanding signed blank cheques from their victims.
The statement reads: “The scammers must have taken advantage of the promise made by the NDDC acting Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, to promote agriculture in the Niger Delta region.”
According to the statement, the NDDC boss had told Niger Delta youths, who paid a solidarity visit to the commission at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, that the commission would assist youths interested in agriculture to succeed.
“While the NDDC is still working out the details of the agricultural programme, scammers have gone to town to dupe some members of the public.
“We advise those who have genuine businesses with the NDDC to always cross-check their information at the commission’s official website and other social media handles.
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“We warn that anyone claiming to represent the NDDC or its chief executive officer in non-existent programmes must be treated as a criminal and should be reported to security agencies for appropriate sanctions,” the statement said.
The commission assured members of the public that relevant security agencies were already investigating the activities of the criminals behind the fake loan offers.
