By Seun Adams
The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, has berated the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),
for not living up to expectations as the people it was set up for have not been impacted upon.
Speaking during a meeting with the commission yesterday in Abuja, he averred that NDDC money were funneled to those he referred to as political jobbers and youths.
The Minister expressed regrets that over 400 contractors owed below N1 million have not been paid within the last 10 years.
He said: “NDDC has not performed well, while I don’t want to say that that they have failed, I am saying that you have not performed well because when I saw so many of you looking so robust, I realised that you have not failed your families, but I do not know how far with the people on the streets.
“There are a lots of complaints all over, even the real youths of the Niger Delta who undertook just clearance of water have not been paid.
On why he directed banks to stop paying contractors for job done in the last one year is to enable the ministry ascertain incidence of asset stripping, adding that foreign audit of the projects will be thoroughly investigated.
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said the ministry was bent on recreating the vision of the commission. He added that NDDC has failed in terms of commensurability of projects.
“It may not be business as usual again, We have become a laughing stock to outsiders, as people say that our own people are underdeveloping our region.” Keyamo said.
According to him, the commission for long has been used to enrich politicians’ pockets.