All monies paid to contractors of all abandoned projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be recovered, Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio, has again vowed.

The minister said the erring contractors will be compelled to either return to the sites, or refund the cash they received.

He assured that the forensic audit of the NDDC as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari will expose the contractors who abandoned the jobs given to them after collecting mobilisation funds.

The minister spoke at the weekend at the Palace of the paramount ruler of lbeno Local Government Area, of Akwa lbom State, Owong Effiong Bassey Archianga after the inspection of the Mkpanak -lbeno Skill Acquisition Centre.

According to him, the defaulting contractors will either return to sites to complete the jobs or pay back the monies received “and the ones at lbeno communities would not be exempted from this task.”

Akpabio, who was furious to discover that the NDDC has more than 10 projects abandoned in the lbeno Local Government Area, threatened that all indicted contractors will be brought to book.

The monarch listed some of the abandoned projects as the construction of lwuoachang -Eastern Obolo Road, Itak Abasi/Okoritak Communities Shoreline protection/Embankment, Upenekang/lwuoachang Shoreline protection/ embankment and the Ibeno Mini Stadium.

Others are: Ibeno Civic Center, Ibeno Standard Divisional Police Headauarters Orukim/Unyenge/ltioesek Road, mounting of transformers and electrification of lbeno Villages, Inua Eyet lkot /ltak ldim Ukpa/Okposo Road and Ikot Ekong /lbeno Road, channelisation of creeks in lbeno communities.

The monarch commended the minister’s vision and efforts in trying to streamline procedures and operations in the NDDC.

He also appreciated his visit to the Skill Acquisition Centre, a project under construction by the Ministry.

The monarch, who recalled that the project was initiated when Apabio held the fort Akwa Ibom State governor of Akwa lbom State, lauded the minister for providing the land to site the project at lbeno.

Pleading for the speedy completion of the project, Dr. Archianga stated that the communities would be exceedingly glad to host President Muhammadu Buhari during the inauguration of the project during Akpabio’s tenure as minister. (The Nation)

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