Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs
Niger Delta stakeholders demand prosecution of erring contractors
Stakeholders in Niger Delta, Friday applauded the Federal Government for the recently concluded forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), even as they demanded the prosecution of contractors found wanting in the execution of contracts awarded.
The stakeholders, who spoke at a Consultative Forum on Strengthening NDDC-Citizens Relationship to Promote Transparency and Effective Service Delivery, Post Audit, demanded the publication of the full forensic audit report.
The stakeholders comprising; Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community and youth leaders urged the federal government to expose contractors behind the 13,000 abandoned projects in the region.
They demanded that the major players in the scene within the period covered by the audit should be made to give account of their stewardship while those found wanting should be blacklisted.
Senior Programmes Officer, Social Action, Mr Prince Edegbuo, a CSO, in his opening remarks, noted that the revelations from the audit report had made it evident that the NDDC was not run efficiently.
Edegbuo said that with the enormous resources that accrued to the NDDC for the region during the period covered by the audit it was regrettable that a debt of N2 trillion was owed contractors and 13,000 abandoned projects.
He explained that the organisation put together the forum to chart a new course for the development of the region where the commission would be driven by the needs of the people.
Also speaking, Executive Director, We The People, a Non Governmental Organisation, Mr Ken Henshaw, traced the historical trajectory of the developmental needs of the Niger Delta region from Willink’s Commission of 1957 to NDDC.
Henshaw described the audit as a courageous step by the current administration, urging Niger Delta region to demand the identities of those who fleeced resources meant for their development, as he urged the government to make the report public and commence the prosecution of firms and individuals fingered in the audit report released since September.
He further noted that the challenges and obstacles faced by the NDDC were always there but regretted that the magnitude of corruption in the NDDC as presently constituted was huge.
Panelists at the forum examined the lapses in the relationship between NDDC and the people of Niger Delta and resolved to show greater interests in the activities of the commission.
A Social Activist and a member of the panel of discussion, Princess Elizabeth Egbe, expressed displeasure with the non participation of the NDDC in the forum in spite of a formal invitation.
