Forensic Audit: How contractors abandon 13,777 projects in Niger Delta ─NDDC

*Niger Delta region of Nigeria has remained backward since 1958 in spite of efforts by successive governments at creating various interventionist programmes and projects, says Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As President Muhammadu Buhari received the document, the Federal Government has disclosed that the Forensic Audit Report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) indicated that there are over 13,000 abandoned projects within the coastal South-South region of Nigeria.

It was gathered Senator Godswill Akpabio, Honourable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, disclosed this Thursday, September 2, 2021, when he submitted the report to President Muhammadu Buhari through Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, in Abuja, FCT.

The Minister stated: “The report of the audit committee showed that there are over 13,000 abandoned projects in the Niger Delta, and even before the submission of the report, some contractors had returned to site on their own and completed about 77 road projects.

“Although the exercise had a checkered history, I thank Mr. President and all those who supported and ensured its success.”

The exercise was not done to witch-hunt anyone, but to ensure that the huge sums of funds allocated for developing the region are put to good use, said Senator Akpabio.

He noted that the Niger Delta region has remained backward since 1958 in spite of efforts by successive governments through the creation of various interventionist programmes and projects, a situation he says is changing.

Buhari receives NDDC forensic audit report, says there’s substantial compromise in 13,777 projects

Sequel to his receipt of the Forensic Audit Report on NDDC, President Buhari has vowed that the Federal Government will ensure it recovers over N6 trillion allegedly misappropriated in the running of the NDDC between 2001 and 2019.

Buhari, who spoke shortly after he received the report from Senator Akpabio, claimed that there had been evidence of substantial compromise in the execution of at least 13,777 and the existence of “multitude of NDDC’s bank accounts amounting to 362” which lacked proper reconciliation of accounts, report said.

He, therefore, directed that the report of the forensic audit on the NDDC be forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for necessary action.

Mr. Malami, AGF and Minister for Justice, receiving the report, also assured that it would be critically analysed for necessary action and implementation for the good of the Niger Delta people.

Recall Buhari in October 2019 had ordered a holistic forensic audit on the activities of the NDDC from when it was established till August 2019, in response to the yearnings of the people to make the Commission more effective and result-oriented.

He reportedly declared that there was nothing tangible on the ground in the region to show for the huge taxpayers’ money committed to projects and programmes over the years through the Commission; hence the need to investigate the satiation on the ground in the region.

He noted that his administration was concerned about the colossal loss occasioned by uncompleted and unverified development projects in the region, and how the citizens have for long been deprived of the dividends of democracy.

Kindly Share This Story