Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Godswill Akpabio says the forensic audit embarked on by the ministry has forced some contractors handling projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to return to sites to complete abandoned projects with their personal fund.
Akpabio on Wednesday while addressing newsmen in Abuja on the activities of the ministry in 2020 and work plans for 2021, explained that the ongoing audit at the NDDC had already achieved a lot.
According to him: “Even those contracts that were awarded since 2004 and abandoned, as I speak, some of those contractors have returned to the sites to execute them.
“It is very clear that the forensic audit has already achieved a lot even before the results are out. I will give you just one example. In the estate where my brother the honourable minister of state stays, about four road projects are being constructed and they are almost completed.
“You will be surprised that we have not given out one single road project since we came in as ministers because of the fact that we have issues of budget and budget perception, which was just last year December resolved by the National Assembly.
“And also street lighting projects suddenly emerged; almost everywhere and we have over 75 projects right now that have been completed without even giving out one.”
He said the ministry was taking measured steps to develop the Niger Delta region and also utilizing public-private partnerships to complete ongoing projects in the region with alternative sources of funding.
According to him, 52 projects in the nine Niger Delta States are ready for inauguration, including a skill acquisition centre at Agadagba in Ondo State, which would be handed over to Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, subject to presidential approval.
The Minister of State for Niger Delta, Omotayo Alasoadura, in his remarks, pledged the determination of the ministry to ensure that things were done with accountability and transparency to ensure sustainable development in the region.
