Skip to main content

Despite spending N423 billion in 6 years, Niger Delta Ministry had only 12 per cent project execution




The Federal Government has approved the technical audit report on the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs showing that it spent N423 billion from 2009 when it was created, to 2015.
However, the project execution rate by the ministry was only 12 per cent, an official said.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, made these known after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr. Usani added that the meeting also resolved to make those who misapplied the funds face the consequences.
“Today we received approval of the project technical audit report which was carried out by the ministry in investigating all contracts awarded and projects and programmes carried out in the ministry since the inception of the ministry from 2009 to 2015.
“The revealing content of the report shows that over N423 billion had been expended in the region by the ministry alone, not other intervening agencies, from 2009 to 2015.
“From this amount project execution rate has been at 12 per cent with an average completion rate of a project standing at five years and the impact rate is eight per cent.’’
Mr. Usani said the ministry had sought approval from council to have the recommendations of the report conveyed to the legitimate agencies charged with the responsibilities of recovering government asset.
He said the recovery was for asset that were misappropriated, misused or found to be idling in some quarters.
“With this it means all those who have accessed government’s resources for one purpose or another must be compelled to make adequate use of same.
“Otherwise they will face the recommendations that go with such violations and that is our position concerning that report and we have got council approval for that,” he said.
According to the minister, the report indicated that about 60 per cent of the N700 billion appropriated for contracts in the region had been paid out to the contractors which recorded low execution of the jobs.
“To find that N423 billion had been expended in the region with the type of results we see shows that there is something tangibly and obviously wrong with how procurement had been carried out in the ministry.”
The minister added that the number of projects awarded during the period was 427 but there was no uniform action by contractors.
He said the action to be taken would vary according to measure of liabilities.
He said some would be asked to return to site while others would be made to refund money for their display of criminal intent of collecting money without appearing at site at all.
The Information minister Lai Mohammed said the 2017 budget was being reconciled with the minister of budget and national planning.
He further said that President Muhammadu Buhari “is in very competent hands; there is no cause for alarm.”
(NAN)


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DEFECTIONS: Why Saraki, Dogara Others Must Heed Sen. Ibrahim's Call by Comrade Nwokoma Ndubuisi M.

The gale of defections in the National Assembly last week was followed by an advice from no one else than Sen. Abu Ibrahim that the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and others in the fold of the All Progressives Congress APC that are still masquerading in the party should resign their membership of the party. This call which also implies that they resign their positions as leaders of the various arms of the National Assembly is yet to be complied with by those concerned as at the time of writing this piece Whatever their reasons for still staying put in the party may be, the fact of the matter is that their continued stay in the party has become a sore which must be extricated from the body.  As I watched through the proceedings of the defections on national television, I wept for the country for producing such leaders that lack morality despite all the party has given them politically which they ordin...

Group Hails Hon. Karimi For Proactive Representation.

A socio political group in Kogi State known as the “Yabga Youth Movement” has hailed his member representing Yagba East/ Yabga West/ Mopa-Muro Federal constituency for his proactive representation of the people of the Federal constituency at the green chambers of the National Assembly. Honorable Sunday Karimi is of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The group through its National coordinator Mr. Adedayo Juwon said the way and manner the second term member of the House of Representatives has supported his constituents’ needs in terms of efficient representation and outreach is worth commending. He said the group will not hesitate to reciprocate such gesture to the member in order to achieve the overall wishes and aspirations of the people of the area.  Mr. Juwon who made his position known on the law maker in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja said the group was making its position known so posterity will know that the lawmaker is performing very cr...

Support For GEJ: C C Okirie Commends PDP In Rivers State

A frontline politician in Rivers State Chief Chukwuma Chinwa Oikrie has commended the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers state under the leadership of Bro. Felix Obuah (Go Round) for the support the party has given to President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid. Chief Okirie made this known at Omoku Town the headquarters of Ogba/ Egbema / Ndoni local government area over the weekend when the Party opened the Campaign Office of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the LGA. While thanking the state Chairman for his support, Chief Okirie stated that with the support the President has received from the party in the state, there was even no need for him to come and campaign personally.   “With the tremendous support the people of the state have accorded the President, I think he should go and rest. It is even immaterial if he comes to campaign personally because the people of the state are behind him. We will give him the traditional 100% votes we have alway...