President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that all those who mismanaged the funds intended to develop the Niger Delta through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would be published.
Buhari testified Thursday in Akwa Ibom while commissioning a shelter at Uyo University, his office said.
“Therefore, in the future, we will ensure that each recoverable kobo is recovered for use in the service of the people of this region and the culprits will stand up to the law,” said presidential spokeswoman Femi Adesina in a statement Thursday.
Buhari had authorized a forensic audit of the NDDC following allegations of widespread corruption at the agency.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how various NDDC projects were abandoned or non-existent despite the release of millions of naira for them.
Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio had said that the NDDC was treated like an ATM where officials went to steal public funds.
The shelter Buhari commissioned on Thursday was built by the NDDC, according to Adesina.
Read Mr. Adesina’s full statement below.
NDDC FORENSIC AUDIT: CHAIRMAN BUHARI SAYS ‘ALL KOBO’ WILL BE RECOVERED, GUILT FOR FIGHTING THE LAW
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja said the concluded forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was being reviewed, with a view to recovering every recoverable kobo, while the culprits will face the law.
Speaking at the virtual commissioning of the NDDC Prototype Hostel at Uyo University, Akwa Ibom, the president said that it was regrettable that the special development fund of the entire region was wasted by a few for more than 20 years, leaving many in misery.
“The Niger Delta Development Commission must show that it can achieve its intended goals and make its impact felt throughout the Niger Delta region. The lives of the people of the Niger Delta could be so much better if the funding received by this commission since its inception, in billions of naira over the past 20 years, had been wisely deployed in the service of the people.
“Serial abuse, non-delivery, and what had become ingrained institutional decay, was the reason I requested the forensic audit.
“Therefore, in the future, we will ensure that each recoverable kobo is recovered for use in the service of the people of this region and the culprits will face the Law.
“Accordingly, I want to take the opportunity of this engagement to direct all NDDC statutory contributors to remit all outstanding funds to the Commission and to ensure that this is done transparently and in accordance with established procedure and process.” He said.
President Buhari ordered that all abandoned projects that have a direct impact on people’s livelihoods must be reactivated and completed.
“When I ordered the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to institute a forensic audit of the Commission, after many representations from key stakeholders in the Niger Delta, I also ordered that all viable projects that had been abandoned, but would have a positive impact on the life and livelihood of people, will revive and complete immediately “.
President Buhari noted that the contract for the construction of a hostel with a capacity for 1,050 male and female students was awarded in 2004 and, like many others, was abandoned.
“This prototype university hostel has 1,050 beds, 525 for men and women, and it is furnished to meet the needs of a university student. The complex also has an important physical and physical infrastructure to guarantee its sustainability and durability.
“The completion of this structure is equally a recognition of the importance the government places on providing quality housing and better education for all Nigerians.
“It is, therefore, another important proof that this administration is committed to meeting the needs of the people, throughout Nigeria, and meeting their expectations. The government must continue in its efforts to serve the people, providing amenities, as well as the environment conducive to scholarships, investments in all sectors, for the sustainability of the environment and the overall growth of the economy.
“An important part of this success story is that it easily could not have happened. The contract for this hostel was awarded in 2004. It was one of many abandoned projects in the Niger Delta region, but which I ordered the Niger Delta Affairs Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio to quickly complete and put into operation. ” added the president.
President Buhari said that in many public universities and higher education institutions, children face housing challenges, while private investors take advantage of the gap to provide accommodation and sadly allocate resources to parents and guardians.
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“Many of them are located far from the school premises and come with their own unique challenges. It is good that such an infrastructure gap is being addressed by providing student accommodation that is affordable, well built and in a safe environment, ” he said.
The president noted that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on his behalf, commissioned the headquarters of the Base 6 Special Protections Unit in Omagwa, Rivers State, which was built and donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission to the Nigerian Police. Nigeria.
“First of all, and as stated on that occasion, the complex is part of a crucial component of the great reform that we are undertaking with the Nigerian Police. While we are working to increase the number of police personnel, within established annual targets, and to re-equip personnel, both in personal equipment and hardware, accommodation remains an important feature of that reform. In fact, it showed that we can alleviate housing problems for senior security personnel to improve security in the region.
“Second, this unique intervention demonstrates that NDDC understands the importance of the government’s effort to improve the lives and livelihoods of our police officers, in line with my directive that the construction of barracks for men and women of the Police force must be done in collaboration with the Special Housing Effort of the Family Housing funds. ”
In his comments, Akpabio said that the completion of the NDDC headquarters complex and other projects clearly showed the president’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of people in the Niger Delta.
“President Buhari is focused on the development of Nigeria and the Niger Delta.
“The president wants to make sure that when he leaves office, the NDDC is repositioned to live up to the expectations of the founding fathers,” he added.
NDDC Sole Administrator Effiong Akwa thanked the president for always honoring the institution by commissioning three projects in one year.
“The three projects have one thing in common, they were all abandoned before the forensic audit,” he added.
The vice-rector of the University of Uyo, Nyaudoh Ndaeyo and the Student Union also thanked the rector for the intervention, with the award ceremony.
Femi Adesina Special Advisor to the President (Media and Publicity) December 30, 2021