Coalition of civil societies (CSOs) monitoring recovered assets have raised concern over the non-utilization of the $50 million recovered from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Madueke as well as the $954,000 recovered from the former Governor of Balyesa State Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Of concern to the CSOs is that one year after the Galactica restitution agreement for the repatriation of $52.88m linked to the former Minister was signed and assigned for the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, the project is yet to commence neither were they able to ascertain the location of the repatriated fund.

They also expressed concern that three years after the $954000 recovered from the former Governor of Balyesa State was repatriated back into the country to fund development of Primary Health Care centers in the state, the state government is still in the procurement process of selecting the the NGOs that will monitor the implementation of the project.

Speaking during a two-day town hall meeting on the utilisation of recovered assets and presentation of accountability reports, the Executive Director of the African Network for Economic and Environmental Justice David Ugolor affirmed that their findings have shown that non of the project have commenced.

He stated that with the support of United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), ANEEJ had worked closely with CSOs in Balyesa State to visit the PHC designated to receive the money that is recovered from Alamieyeseigha, but they found out that the health centres are yet to be developed.

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According him “Our findings have shown that for the Galatica asset , no money has been used. Even though this agreement was signed more than a year ago, it shows clearly that the Nigerian government have not utilized anything while the $2.88 million that is given for rule of law for the Institute’s International Center for Justice in Mota, they have utilized their own for training”

Ugolor also mentioned that the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency have not being forthcoming in providing information on the whereabouts of $50million provided for the expansion of renewable energy.

Applauding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for efforts in recovering proceeds of crimes , he stressed that recovery alone is not enough as citizens ask questions such as how these funds are used? Who benefits from its utilisation? Do they truly improve the lives of communities? What safeguards exist to prevent re-looting?

Revd Ugolor emphasized that it’s a collective responsibility to ensure that recovered assets are used transparently in such a way that will benefit Nigerians saying proper utilisation can restore confidence in governance, demonstrate that corruption has consequences, deliver visible benefits to vulnerable communities and strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture

He also stated that conversely, mismanagement would undermine both national and international confidence in asset restitution processes. (The Guardian, but headline rejigged)