NDDC Forensic Audit: We’ll Recover Stolen Funds, Prosecute Culprits – Buhari Vows

BY EDMOND ODOK – President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to recover all stolen funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with immediate prosecution awaiting anyone or group found culpable in the sleaze.

The President said it is regrettable and annoying that for more than 20 years, a few individuals and groups sat and squandered the special development fund of the entire region and left many of the people in abject poverty and penury.

President Buhari, who spoke at the virtual commissioning of the NDDC Prototype Hostel at the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, disclosed that the concluded forensic audit of the commission is being reviewed and all necessary steps would be taken to recover all missing or misappropriated funds.

According to him; “The Niger Delta Development Commission needs to demonstrate that it can achieve the objectives it was conceived for and make its impact felt all over 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 last 20 years, has been judiciously deployed in the service of the people. The serial abuse, lack of delivery, and what had become an entrenched institutional decay, was the reason why I called for the forensic audit.

“Therefore, going forward we shall ensure every recoverable kobo, is recovered for use in service of the people of this region and those found culpable shall face the law.

“Consequently, I want to use the opportunity of this commissioning to direct all statutory contributors to the NDDC to remit all outstanding funds to the Commission, and to ensure this is done transparently and according to laid down procedure and process.”

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said President Buhari also directed that all abandoned projects that directly impact the livelihood of the people should be revived and completed without any further delay.

Adesina’s statement quoted the President as saying; “When I directed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to institute a forensic audit of the Commission, after many representations by major stakeholders in the Niger Delta, I had also directed that all viable projects which had been abandoned, but which would impact positively on the lives and livelihoods of the people, be immediately revived and completed.”

Noting that the contract for the building of a 1,050-capacity hostel for male and female students was awarded in 2004, but abandoned like many others, President Buhari said; “This prototype University hostel consists of 1,050-bed spaces, 525 each for males and females, and is furnished to meet the needs of a university student.

“The complex also boasts of significant hard and soft infrastructure to ensure its sustainability and durability. The completion of this structure is equally in recognition of the importance government attaches to providing quality housing and improved education for all Nigerians. It is, therefore, another important proof that this administration is committed to satisfying the needs of the people, throughout Nigeria, and fulfilling their expectations.

“Government must continue in its efforts to serve the people, by providing amenities, as well as the enabling environment for scholarships, investments across all sectors, for the sustenance of the environment, and overall growth of the economy.

“Significant part of this success story is that it could easily not have happened. The contract for this hostel was awarded as far back as 2004. It was one of many projects abandoned across the Niger Delta region, but which I directed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to expeditiously complete and put to use.”

He said it was unfortunate that across many public universities and institutions of higher learning, the students are faced with accommodation challenges, while private investors take advantage of the gap to provide accommodation and regrettably exploit the resources of parents and guardians.

The statement further said; “Many of them are located far away from school premises and come with their own peculiar challenges. It is good that such an infrastructure gap is being addressed, by providing accommodation for students that would be affordable, well built, and in a secure environment.’

Similarly, the statement said President Buhari also noted that on his behalf, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had commissioned the Special Protections Unit Base 6 Barracks in Omagwa, Rivers State, built and donated by the NDDC to the Nigeria Police Force.

“Firstly, and as stated at that occasion, the complex is part of a crucial component of the major reform we are undertaking with the Nigerian Police Force. While we are working to increase the number of police personnel, within set yearly targets, and re-equip personnel, both in personal gear and hardware, accommodation remains an important feature of that reform. Indeed, it showed that we can alleviate the accommodation challenges of senior security personnel in order to enhance security in the region.

“Secondly, this singular intervention demonstrates that NDDC understands the importance of government’s effort at improving the lives and livelihoods of our police officers, in line with my directive that building of barracks for men and women of the police force should be done in collaboration with the Special Housing effort of the Family Home funds”, the President said.

For Senator Akpabio, completing the NDDC headquarters complex and other projects clearly demonstrates the President’s commitment to improving the livelihood of the Niger Delta people.

The statement quoted Akpabio as saying; “President Buhari is focused on the development of Nigeria and the Niger Delta. The president wants to ensure that by the time he leaves office, the NDDC is repositioned to live up to the expectations of the founding fathers.”

In his remarks, the Sole Administrator of NDDC, Mr Effiong Akwa, lauded the President for always honouring the institution by commissioning three projects within one year, saying; “The three projects have one thing in common, they were all abandoned before the forensic audit.”.

On their part, the statement said the Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudoh Ukpabio Ndaeyo, and the Student Union also appreciated the government’s intervention, with the presentation of awards to Mr President.