Group urges Buhari to prosecute persons culpable in NDDC probe

•Raises Concern Over Disparity In 29 NDDC Projects In Delta

The Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately commence investigation, arrest and prosecution of all persons, contractors and companies involved and indicted in the waste, mismanagement and looting in the forensic reports and audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

It also advised government to proceed without delay the arrest and prosecute of all management and staff of the Commission involved in contracts’ scam and racketeering.

Addressing journalists in Asaba, the Project Officer (Budget Tracking) of the social action group, Mr. Isaac Botti said in pursuant of the advocacy on fiscal transparency and accountability in the commission, it tracked 29 abandoned projects in 14 of the 25 local councils in Delta State.

Botti named the projects to include the N2.7b construction of Oviri Court Junction by Effurun-Sapele Road to Oba Junction by Effurun-Eku Road at Oviri Court-Oha.

Okpe with actual amount of N98m and 3.9 per cent budgetary provision; the N250m installation of Solar-Power Streetlight in Gbokoda Community, Warri North Local Council and the N1bn construction of School of Medical Sciences at Western Delta University, Oghara with actual amount approved being N104m.

Others were the N200m furniture laboratory equipment and computers at Delta State University, Oleh Campus in Isoko with actual amount approved being N20m; the N250m construction of access roads from Ekgroup-Itsekiri Community Town Hall to Angle Park in Warri South Local Council and the N250m construction of Old Eku Road with a spur to Catholic Church, Oviori Eku in Ethiope East Local Council.

He said the N500m reclamation of Orugbo Waterfront from Gray to Orugbo Town with actual amount approval being N53.9m and 20 other projects abandoned and scattered across the state.

He lamented that the commission had deliberately been duplicating schools, hospitals and road projects.

According to him, there was huge disparity between the amount budgeted for projects and the eventual amount approved for them for execution. The projects with the highest approved sum got 40 per cent of the original budget and the average approved amount stood at 15 per cent.

He expressed sadness that benefitting communities were kept in total darkness in the affairs of NDDC and therefore pleaded with Mr. President to enforce the outcome of the forensic investigation for those indicted to face the music.