By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Federal Government has announced a donation of 33 utility vehicles to ease the physical verification of projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by forensic auditors.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, delivered the vehicles to the auditors in Port Harcourt, according to a statement issued by NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, on Friday, May 21, 2021.
Akpabio was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Babayo Ardo.
In his presentation, Ardo said that the vehicles would aid the security committee in the physical verification phase of the exercise.
He explained: “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.”
Ardo 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.
He vowed that the NDDC Ministry “shall leave no stone unturned to see that all obstacles were cleared to enable the NDDC work effectively and efficiently.”