MOSIEND Hails NDDC Forensic Reports Implementation On Award Of Contracts

A renowned pressure group in the Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has hail the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) forensic report implementation committee on contract awards in the region.
The group, which adjudged Senator Godswill Akpabio’s tenure at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as most corrupt and reckless, commended the ministry for carrying out the presidential directives to terminate over 1,300 abandoned or unexecuted contracts awarded by NDDC to contractors in the region.
The group decried lack of genuine visionary and purposeful leadership as a barn to the region’s development.
President, MOSIEND, Amb Kennedy Tonjo West, stated this to The Tide during an interview in Port Harcourt.
West alleged that under Akpabio’s tenure at the ministry, NDDC contracts were awarded to cronies even during the forensic exercise, adding that contractors were secretly paid just as there were indiscriminate employments and promotion without due diligence.
“In as much as we appreciate the government’s political will to do everything possible to sanitise and stabilise the commission for optimal performance going forward, we have our reservations on the validity of the forensic exercise under Akpabio’s watch”.
The group further noted that NDDC became so messy to the extent that contract papers were sold and bought in beer parlours to third parties in the name of NDDC contracts.
MOSIEND insisted that any contract papers during Akpabio’s tenure that does not go through due process, should be revoked and monies recovered by the present administration.
MOSIEND called on the contractors whose contracts were terminated by the Presidential Committee to approach the court for justice, if they were not satisfied by the action of the Federal Government.
“If all these NDDC projects were sincerely executed in Niger Delta communities, the people of the region could not be complaining of under-development and sufferings as witnessed in our rural areas”.
He noted that the contract terminations would serve as a deterrent to corrupt contractors in the region.
“If there is anything that has caused gross under-development in the region, it is the habitual collection of contracts and monies, and the abandoning of the projects. This is the sole reason for under-development in the region, not the Federal Government,” West stated.
The group, which commended the appointment of new Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, and the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Engr Emmanuel Audu, said they were satisfied with both appointments by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
“We are comfortable with the focused and transparent disposition of the minister and the recent appointment ofacting managing director as to concentrate on addressing the salient issues that engender grassroots socio-economic growth and development”.
MOSIEND further called on the stakeholders and groups to support and encourage the minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the acting managing director of the commission to achieve the much they can for the region within this limited time they have for our overall interest of the region.

By: Chinedu Wosu