SING Nigeria has applauded the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari in ordering the forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission from 2001-2019.
The Niger Delta Development Commission is a federal government agency established by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
SING Nigeria recalls that since its inception in 2000, NDDC has received at least N15 TRILLION in project funds, yet failed to achieve the Niger Delta Regional Development Masterplan to lay the foundation for transforming the region into what is should look like.
Despite the huge financial allocations, the poverty level in the Niger Delta states keeps rising by the day and therefore requires urgent intervention. The forensic audit ordered by the President Buhari is therefore coming at the right time and we urge the President to ensure that the reports of the audit are implemented to the letter.
More so, the audit process must be seen to be transparent, as we advocate for a wider stakeholders involvement, towards unraveling the cancerous level of mismanagement of funds, which has characterised the activities of the NDDC.
SING remains committed to advocating for an improved living for the people of Niger Delta and any step, taken to address their challenges, such as this decision of President Buhari, is welcome to us.
Signed: Itari Turner, Ph.D.
Program Director
SING Nigeria
