The Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission said some contractors are sponsoring attacks against its audit of the agency.
The committee however pledges commitment to carrying out a thorough forensic audit despite the said attacks.
Habidah Lawal reports that President Buhari directed a forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission during a closed-door meeting with governors of the region’s nine oil producing states. This is against the backdrop of the region’s condition not justifying the huge resources spent on its development projects over the years.
A steering committee has subsequently been inaugurated to oversee the commission’s affairs pending conclusion of the audit. The move has generated mixed reactions with some groups applauding it while others feel responsibilities of the commission and that of the Niger delta ministry are different.
The Interim Management Committee is concerned that the NDDC is currently indebted to some contractors to the tune of over three trillion naira.
It alleges that some contractors are trying to frustrate its efforts, most severe of attacks coming from a serving lawmaker who was awarded over 300 million naira worth of contracts . About ten firms would be engaged to conduct the forensic audit.