NDDC audit must be complied with, says Usani

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, has directed that the audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission must be complied with as soon as possible.

Indications have emerged that over N70 billion will be needed to complete the construction of the East-West Road, which straddles the six South-South States.The minister stated this during a visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Usani who lauded the NDDC Board and Management for its efforts towards reforming the Commission’s processes, said that the audit that would be carried out in was a Presidential directive which must be complied with.

The NDDC Director for Special Duties, Dr. Princewill Ekanin, said that political interference was responsible for poor management of the Commission’s budget cycle, adding that poor compliance with internal processes and procedures, as well as poor institutional culture was responsible for poorly delivered projects.

He stated that the Commission was reviewing all contracts awarded from 2011 to date with a view to terminating unviable ones that did not comply with procurement processes and award acceptance terms. Other contracts affected were those awarded with no signed agreements, projects with poor performance and abandoned projects.

He stated that many contractors would handle the construction of the remaining sections of the East-West road, which he described as a strategic link to the oil and gas industry.