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N800 billion down the drain in Niger-Delta


Consider this: between 2009 and 2015, a report by a Ministerial Technical Audit Committee on Contracts Awarded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs shows that of #700 billion spent on 427 contracts only a measly 8 percent impact has been achieved. The rest of the money? Down the drain!
The report reveals that 18 percent of the contracts were stalled, with only 12 percent completed. The report indicates that 70 percent remain under construction!

The report claims that the much anticipated intervention to address the yearnings and needs of the region, as clearly captured in the mandate of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry has clearly been derailed.
The oil producing states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States, and between them, they struggle for juicy positions.

From studies, the contracts which were supposed to fix vital infrastructures such as canalization, electricity, shoreline, skills acquisition centers and water projects have simply not met their objective; despite the fact that the contract awards were higher than any other elsewhere. Moreover, the contract awarded for roads did not follow any known standards. In addition, the report revealed that many of the contracts were given to colleagues, friends and associates. More serious as observed are duplication of function, repetition of programs and conflicts of projects in the region by the Niger-Delta ministry, the NDDC, the presidential amnesty programme (PAP) as well as state and Local Government.
Nevertheless, it is a shame that the way billions of naira are mentioned would soon loose its value, “said one Mr. Wale. “But 90% of monies disbursed ended up in private pockets lamented Mr. Adesoko.


Still undaunted, the   quest by the federal government to right the wrongs in that oil producing region appears to stagnate due to power tussles, warring militants, community squabbles and youths agitation. Above all the regional and political leaders seem to have lost the main objective which is to develop the region!

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