The House of Representatives on Tuesday stated that it
would uncover corruption and mismanagement of funds in the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC) and take
necessary corrective action, saying it
would do so without political
consideration or preference for any predetermined outcomes.
The House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the
assurance at the opening of a one-day investigative hearing by the House
Committee on NDDC, when the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio,
the Minister of State, Tayo Alasoadura, and other members of ministry appeared
before the committee.
He said since the establishment of NDDC in 2000 to
facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta; support the
regeneration of ecologically damaged areas and achieve economic prosperity for
the region, enormous amounts of money had been allocated to the Commission, but
lamented that available evidence suggests that the significant allocations have
not achieved the objectives for which they were intended.
The Speaker said ecological damage is still a clear
and present danger to the people of the region, depriving them of opportunities
for economic sustenance and sustainable living.
He pointed out that the available transportation, healthcare and
education infrastructure are still insufficient to meet the present needs of
the people, stressing that after these years, the people of the region are
beginning to wonder if the establishment of the NDDC has served any real
purpose or made any positive impact on the lives of the people.
Gbajabiamila stressed further that it was for these
reasons that the House resolved to investigate the operations of the NDDC to
identify the issues that have mitigated against the full achievement of the
Commission’s goals.
According to him, "Everything is on the table.
Where corruption or mismanagement is the issue, we will uncover them and take
necessary corrective action, and we will do so without political consideration
or preference for any predetermined outcomes.
"Where funding or the lack thereof has been an
issue, we will also take action to remedy the situation. Our objective is to
ensure that the Commission is properly positioned to carry out its mandate
effectively and meet the obligations it owes to the Niger Delta and to the
country."
The Speaker stressed that the investigative
hearing was an opportunity for
stakeholders to have their views heard, provide information and context and
assist the Committee in delivering a substantive report for the House to
consider and act upon.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recalled that the House on November 13, 2019, deliberated
on a motion on the need to stop the illegality in the NDDC and consequently
referred same to the Committee to investigate.
He noted that the Committee was committed to
dealing with the issues dispassionately, while also urging all the stakeholders
to give the Committee maximum cooperation.
Tunji-Ojo warned that media attacks on the
legislature should stop henceforth, adding that the National Assembly is one,
and an attack on the Senate is an attack on the House, which would be
considered as a declaration of war on the institution.
He stated that the lawmakers would not allow
anybody or agency to bring the institution to disrepute.
Speaking with journalists after the closed-door
investigative hearing, Akpabio said although the result of the hearing was not
known yet, the investigation went well.
The minister also revealed that the forensic audit
was on course, adding that the intention was that if anybody has committed
misappropriation or otherwise, it is an opportunity for them to go back to site
for monies, they collected and complete the projects, or if the forensic audit unearth those things, those implicated have the right to refund or face the law.
Akpabio added: "We have started on abandoned
projects already. For instance, the head office of the NDDC which was started
and not completed, we are on it and promised that working closely with the
committee, we will deliver the head office by April 2020. The gigantic cardiovascular
hospital abandoned for years which is 80 per cent complete, we are also working
to ensure that it’s completed. About 91 containers of electrical equipment,
including 5,000 transformers, are at One port are on the verge of being cleared.
We believe when we do all these, we will power to a lot of communities in the
region."
Akpabio also lamented about the quality of NDDC road
projects and why it cannot last for five years.
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