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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