Anxiety as Akpabio receives forensic audit report

TNT Newsline August 10, 2021 2 minutes read

By OKODILI NDIDI, Abuja

The long-awaited forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been submitted, triggering fear about the future of the interventionist agency.

President Muhamamadu Buhari ordered the forensic audit of the NDDC projects since it was created after flurry of complaints about alleged mismanagement of the funds accrued to the Commission for the development of the oil rich Niger Delta region.

The Presidency had rebuffed calls for the scrapping of the Commission or constituting a substantive Board until the result of the forensic audit is submitted.

In the interim report of the forensic audit, 12,128 abandoned projects that could not be traced to any contractor were uncovered.

Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio, moments after receiving the audit report, assured that President Muhamamadu Buhari will act swiftly on the document.

He said the government will study the final report to point out salient areas that will guide the president in taking further action.

This is coming few days after expiration of the July ending dateline earlier announced by the Minister for the submission of the forensic report.

The Minister maintained that the report would definitely be a turning point for the Niger Delta region, adding that it will enhance the socio-economic status of the region.

Akpabio also expressed gratitude for the timely completion of the Forensic audit report, which would be submitted to the President, adding the security team exhibited high level of discipline, candour and brilliant comportment knowing that the exercise would not be successful without security assistance.

The Minister reiterated Buhari’s directive for a holistic examination and review of the operations of the NDDC, which culminated in the inauguration of forensic auditor and subsequently the security team for the forensic auditors to salvage NDDC and the entire Niger Delta region. (The Nation)