NDDC Alerts Public to Fraudulent Scheme Targeting Youth Internship Applicants

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a public warning regarding fraudulent individuals exploiting the agency’s Youth Internship Scheme to deceive members of the public.

According to the commission, scammers are circulating messages across various social media platforms, requesting that young Nigerians submit their bank account details under the pretense of receiving a monthly stipend of N50,000.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, clarified that the commission maintains a verified database of participants for its skills development and youth programmes. He emphasized that legitimate beneficiaries from the Niger Delta region have successfully participated in the initiative.

The statement noted that the fraudulent actors are using the reputation of the NDDC’s empowerment programmes to lure unsuspecting individuals into a nonexistent scheme.

“Please note that the NDDC has painstakingly documented beneficiaries, drawn from the commission’s official database,” Thompson-Wakama stated, adding that many registered youths from the region had genuinely benefited from the programme.

The commission urged the public, particularly young job seekers, to disregard such messages and rely solely on its official communication channels for accurate information. It described the actions of the scammers as troubling, noting that they are taking advantage of youths eager to find legitimate opportunities.

The NDDC further advised all prospective applicants and beneficiaries to direct inquiries about its Youth Internship Scheme and other empowerment programmes to its official website and verified social media handles.