The Federal Government said it had donated 33 utility vehicles to the security committee working with the forensic auditors currently appraising projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, delivered the vehicles to the auditors in Port Harcourt, according to a statement by NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, on Friday.
Akpabio, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Babayo Ardo, said the vehicles would aid the committee in the physical verification phase of the exercise.
“The over 33 utility vehicles are meant to assist the security personnel working with the 16 field auditors charged with identifying and verifying the projects implemented by the NDDC across the Niger Delta region.
“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the forensic audit to be carried out to look at all NDDC’s projects.
“Our initial proposal to President Buhari was to hire vehicles for the forensic exercise but rather he approved the procurement of new vehicles to be deployed for the exercise,” he said.
The minister expressed optimism that the forensic audit would guide further interventionist actions in the region.
He said the ministry was committed to ensuring rapid development of the Niger Delta region by repositioning the NDDC to effectively deliver its mandate to the people.
“So, we shall leave no stone unturned to see that all obstacles were cleared to enable the NDDC work effectively and efficiently,” the statement quoted Akpabio as saying.
