By OKODILI NDIDI, Abuja

The ongoing forensic audit of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has

uncovered 12,128 abandoned projects without a trace of contractors who the

jobs were awarded to, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio, has

disclosed.

The Minister said the interim report of the forensic verification exercise

has been revealing, adding that the “Interim reports of the forensic

verification exercise have been revealing, adding that, “the process has

been transparent, we listed 9,080 projects to be considered in the

verification process but in less than three months the report so far shows

that 12,128 projects has been discovered as abandoned projects with no

specific ownership attached to.”

Akpabio who made the disclosure while hosting the United Nations Deputy

Secretary-General, Hajia Amina Mohammed, who paid a courtesy visit to his

office, maintained that, ““most of these abandoned projects have become

sanctuaries to criminals. Projects were embarked on without consultations.

“There was no initial coordination. So, as part of its mandate, the

Ministry has adopted a program called “Strategic Implementation Work plan”

which will coordinate the activities of development partners and

stakeholders to prevent duplication of projects in the region.”

The Minister revealed further that, “since the discovery of crude oil in

the region 1956, several interventionist agencies had been set up to

address the social and environmental degradation of the area, but they all

failed to provide the needed succor to the people. In other to address the

situation, the present administration decided to set up a forensic auditing

process to access and evaluate the achievements that have been made by NDDC

in the region since its existence”.

He however observed the Niger Delta region remains the most peaceful region

in Nigeria and seeks collaboration with the United Nations to maintain the

prevailing peace and development, adding that the Ministry is developing a

programme ‘Catch them young’ “where young people in primary and secondary

schools are enlightened on the importance of peace and the dangers of

destroying oil installations, which has a serious impact on the ecosystem

and the nation’s economy.”

In her response, Mohammed stated that issues bordering on the Niger Delta

region are peculiar to the heart of the UN and would do everything within

UN programmes to address all issues of disillusionment in people’s

expectations.

She commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the Ministry over

the way they have handled the affairs of the Niger Delta, reiterating the

need to maintain peace and stability in the region, noting that “without

peace there cannot be any meaningful development, especially when the

aspirations and rights of the people are not recognized.”

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Babayo

Ardo, said that the Ministry is charged with the responsibility of ensuring

developmental programmes and supervises the NDDC.

According to him, the Ministry as part of its mandate over the years has

provided infrastructure and high impact programmes for youths and women in

the Niger Delta region, adding that the Ministry is willing to collaborate

with the UN system in actualizing its programmes. (The Nation)

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