The Federal Government has said that the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) operates about 362 bank accounts that lack proper reconciliation.
It also expressed concern that over 13,777 projects being handled by the Niger Delta Development Commission have their execution compromised.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who disclosed this while receiving the forensic audit report of the NDDC from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja,said the government was concerned about what he described as the colossal loss occasioned by uncompleted and unverified development projects in the Niger Delta region, in spite of releasing about N6trillion to the commission in eight years.
He explained that the essence of the forensic audit was to ensure accountability in the use of public funds.
The minister added:“It is on record that between 2001 and 2019, the Federal Government has approved N3, 375, 735,776,794.93 as budgetary allocation and N2,420,948,894,191.00 as Income from Statutory and Non Statutory Sources, which brings the total figure to the sum of approximately N6 trillion given to the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“The Federal Government is particularly concerned with the colossal loss occasioned by uncompleted and unverified development projects in the Niger Delta region, in spite of the huge resources made available to uplift the living standard of the citizens.
“We have on record over 13,777 projects, the execution of which is substantially compromised. The Federal Government is also concerned with the multitudes of Niger Delta Development Commission’s bank accounts amounting to 362 and lack of proper reconciliation of accounts.”
According to him,it was clear that considerable resources have been channelled by the Federal Government to the development of the Niger Delta from 2001 to 2019.
“The essence of the forensic audit is to ensure probity and accountability in the use of public funds. It is against this background that the Federal Government will without hesitation strategically implement all aspects of the audit exercise that will promote probity and greater prosperity for the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria as whole,” he added.
Meanwhile,the Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, an accountability advocacy Non Governmental Organization, has welcomed the completion and eventual submission of the Forensic Audit Report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Francis Udoka Ndimkoha salutes the uncommon vourage of the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for being resolute, in the face of outright vilification and frustrating distractions occasioned by his resolve to see out the forensic audit, as ordered by President Buhari.
“We are grateful to the President for his commitment towards restoring the Niger Delta Master plan, which has been thwarted through the wanton looting and reckless abandonment of projects across the length of the Niger Delta region.It is shocking to realize that in his remarks, shortly before handing over the report, Sen. Akpabio, disclosed that the forensic audit covered a total of 13,777 contracts awarded from 2001 to 2019 at a final contract value of N3, 274,206,032,213.24 out of which over 90% were paid for and largely left undone.
“We urge Mr. President to ensure that the recommendations from the eport are implemented to the letter, to the overall benefit of the Niger Delta people in particular and Nigeria at large.”
Recall that as an accountability advocacy group, which has been in the forefront, vigorously and courageously championing the course of the Forensic Audit, “the Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative is fulfilled to witness a historic day, such as this, and we are hopeful that the success of this exercise will usher in a new lease of life to the beleaguered Niger Delta people” Francis Udoka Ndimkoha declared.
