The Federal Government has been asked to handover those responsible for the mismanagement of the funds of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
President Muhammadu Buhari had claimed that N17 trillion had been invested in the Niger Delta intervention agency without anything to show for it.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio had claimed that the auditors have concluded the examination and documentation of a total 13, 777 contracts for projects and programmes awarded to contractors and consultants in all Niger Delta States from 2001-August 2019, at a total final contract value of N 3,274.206,032,213.24.
The group, 21st century youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) in a statement said it has become necessary for the government to come hard on culprits so as to serve as deterrent to others.
The group stated, “We call on the federal government to direct the EFCC to go after the person’s that has a hand in the primitive looting and mismanagement of these funds.
“We call on president Muhammadu Buhari to direct the various security agencies most especially the EFCC to go after the looters and mismanagers of the humongous amount of money of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC. ”
The group also urged the government to take firm action and not to play politics with the audit report.
“We advise the federal government not to use the release of the forensic audit report of the NDDC as a mere press release. Each person that have a hand in the looting and mismanagement of these funds should be arrested immediately and prosecuted accordingly” it stated.
The statement which was signed by the head of the group, Izon Ebi also urged the National Assembly to intervene by prevailing on president Buhari to do the needful by inaugurating the Board of the Commission.
“We call on the National Assembly to intervene and advise Mr president to do the needful and save the situation not to be seen as enemies of the Niger Delta. Furthermore, the NDDC should not be used as a battle ground for political gladiators in the region who are never satisfied. We the 21st CYNDAC and other Agitators beg Mr president that competence should not be sacrificed on the alter of political expediency in the Niger Delta,”the group further stated.
The group added, “We therefore use this medium to urge Mr president to immediately inaugurate the substantive board of the NDDC to hit the ground running.
“The delay in the inauguration of the new board of the NDDC is giving a fertile ground for ineptitude, subterfuge and corruption that will erode the gains of the forensic audit report submitted to Mr president by the auditors.
” The new appointees screened and confirm by the senate are season technocrats and people with proven track records who can raise the bar in the management of the interventionist agency.
“The 21st century youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience and other genuine Agitators and civil society are of the opinion that the delay in the inauguration of the new board that was appointed by Mr President, screamed and confirm by the senate of the federal Republic will jeopardise the gains and report of the just submitted report of the forensic audit of the commission.
“The screened and confirm board with zero baggage will be able to implement the recommendations of the auditors with optimum commitment. As Agitators that are at the forefront in agitating for the betterment of the region, we have made the following observations.
“The continued delay in the inauguration of the screened and confirm board by the senate of the federal Republic with renowned technocrats and Honourable statemen with proven record of capabilities in various fields of human endeavour is giving a fertile ground for ineptitude, subterfuge and corruption in the commission. This hiatus is eroding the fragile peace and harmony that is currently in the Niger Delta. We advise Mr president as a matter of urgency , inaugurate the already screamed and confirm board of the NDDC. ‘
The group also commended the President for instituting a holistic probe and audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC that has unravel mind boggling revelations and atrocities committed by our so called leaders and politicians.
