President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reinstated his avowed resolve to recover all the money stolen from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well as ensure that the looters are punished.
The president who stated this at the virtual commissioning of the NDDC prototype hostel at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, also said the concluded forensic audit of the Commission was being reviewed with a view to recovering every recoverable kobo.
A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as saying that the special development fund of the entire Niger Delta region was squandered by a few for more than 20 years, leaving many in penury.
“The NDDC 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, have been judiciously deployed in 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,” he said.
The president directed that all remittances meant for the commission should be paid as well as the completion of all abandoned projects that directly impact the lives of the people.
“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.
“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.”
He charged the NDDC to prove to both government and the people of the Niger Delta that it could achieve the set objectives and mandates for which it was conceptualised and created.
He also directed all statutory contributors to its funding to meet their obligations by remitting all outstanding funds, transparently, to the interventionist agency.
“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.”
The President directed that all abandoned projects that directly impact the livelihood of the people should be revived and completed.
The president noted that the contract for the building of 1,050 capacity hostel for male and female students was awarded in 2004, and like many others, it was abandoned.
“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 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,’’ the president said.
He added that in many public universities and institutions of higher learning, children face accommodation challenges, while private investors were taking advantage of the gap to provide accommodation, unfortunately tasking the resources of parents and guardians.
“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,” he said.
In his remarks, Akpabio said the completion of the NDDC headquarters complex and other projects clearly showed Buhari’s commitment to improving the livelihood of people in the Niger Delta.
“President Buhari is focused on 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,” he added.
Also speaking, the NDDC sole administrator, Mr. Effiong Akwa thanked the president for always honouring the institution by commissioning three projects in a year.
“The three projects have one thing in common, they were all abandoned before the forensic audit,” he stated.
