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)
