October 12, 2024
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) have been tasked to focus their searchlights on the activities of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Development.
The Coalition of Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations for Development (COCSOD), gave the charge on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.
The coalition, made up of Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR), Association of Media Practitioners in Oil and Gas Producing Areas (AMEPROGAS), Arewa Youth Alliance for Progress and Development, and Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Initiative (NACAT) however, commended the anti-graft agencies for the renewed fight against corruption and demanded for more action.
CEDEHUR, expressed surprise that the government under President Bola Tinubu, made recent moves through the anti-graft agencies to revive the fight against corruption, especially since the electioneering campaigns for his government were not centered on anti-corruption.
Convener of the coalition, Iteveh Nurudeen, urged the anti-graft agencies to also beam more light on the Ministry of the Niger Delta Development, where citizens of the region have been complaining of negligence.
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The coalition particularly called for investigation into the funds made available for the relief of flood victims, noting that flood is currently ravaging the Niger Delta area without appropriate measures to assist the victims.
They maintained that, “The establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which metamorphosed to Niger Delta Development by the Federal Government of Nigeria years ago, was to channel critical attention towards the development of the Niger Delta region, being the Goose that lays the golden egg in Nigeria.
“It was applauded by all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region because it was collectively perceived to be a panacea to the under development of the region aimed at cushioning the effect of restiveness orchestrated by the feeling and consciousness of marginalisation.
“Recently, this coalition of civil societies, stumbled on an avalanche of documents and memos showing details of projects allegedly executed only on paper but paid for with monies meant for the development of the Niger Delta region.”
“Today, not only as a coalition, but as critical stakeholders in the development question of the Niger Delta region, we are forced to say that the essence of the Niger Delta ministry is becoming defeated since it is fast acquiring notoriety as a breeding ground for all corruption related nefarious activities orchestrated its bureaucracy.
