By Akpan David, Calabar
The National Population Commission (NPC) in Cross River State has explained the circumstances surrounding the auction of some materials originally allocated for a population exercise, following allegations on social media that the items were diverted to APC wards in Biase and neighbouring local government areas.
The allegations accused the NPC Federal Commissioner in the state, Alex Ukam, who is also a political leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Biase, of diverting items, including power banks and life jackets, to his political associates and supporters.
Speaking in his office yesterday, the Director of Administration of the commission in the state, Mr Roland Odey, dismissed the allegations as unfounded, describing them as an attempt by political opponents to tarnish Ukam’s image.
Odey explained that sensitive materials meant for population exercises and elections were usually kept in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for security reasons.
He said the materials, including laptops, tablets, power banks, documents, raincoats and life jackets, had been stored at the CBN for a long time.
According to him, concerns over the safety of some items, particularly power banks nearing their expiry dates, prompted the CBN to write to the Presidency, which authorised the auction of items considered to pose potential risks.
Odey said the NPC national headquarters in Abuja subsequently directed its state offices to liaise with the CBN to facilitate the auction of the affected materials.
He added that the national office engaged the auctioneers, who visited the various states on different dates, with Cross River’s auction taking place last Monday.
“The huge crowd of buyers who turned out at our office in Calabar for the two days the auction lasted made the place look like a market,” he said.
Odey insisted that the state office had no control over the sales, explaining that the auctioneers were responsible for conducting the exercise.
He further disclosed that only power banks were auctioned in the state, adding that some major buyers followed the auctioneers to different states to participate in the sales.
The NPC official urged politicians and social media commentators to verify information before making public allegations, warning that unsubstantiated claims could damage reputations and cause unnecessary embarrassment.
