A northern group, Arewa Round Table Against Corrupt Practices (ARTACP) has debunked allegations of misappropriation of funds by the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) in the region
This was contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Aliyu A Mohammed, the Coordinator of the group and Lawal Abdullahi Secretary and made available to newsmen in Bauchi.
According to the group, the allegations of misappropriation of funds against NEDC under the leadership of Mohammed Goni Akali to the tune of N146.19 billion is mischievous, false and baseless with the aim of creating mischief, paddling and falsehood.
“After a thorough investigations by our group and we visited all the areas mentioned by the petitioners on fact finding mission and based on our findings, there are no abandoned projects awarded by the NEDC in the entire six northeastern states ”
“All the projects awarded by the commission either has reached 50 to 70 percent of completion or the contractors are making final arrangements to commence the project.It seems that the petitioners does not know the projects that they are talking about or where the projects are sited for example, the petitioners talked about housing in Yobe both Potiskum and Nguru.
“The contractors are making final preparations to commence the projects but the 250 houses allocated in Damaturu have reached 70 percent of completion. So also, 50 houses each in Geidam Gujba, Bade and Jakusko, all the construction is ongoing and has reached 50 to 70 percent completion”
The statement further reads, “On the issue of supply of equipment at the Eye Clinic Centre in Azare; ,the supply of the equipment was successfully completed and many people are benefitting. On the construction of ICT training centre and construction of College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, all in Bauchi State, the college was constructed even before the birth of NEDC, and no project was cited in the college by the NEDC,
“The petitioners alleged abandoned construction of central workshop in Maiduguri, Borno; construction of Birma Primary School at Kashimbila in Taraba; Madagali and Pinilla primary schools projects in Adamawa., To put the record straight, the above contracts were not awarded by the commission, Mega School Project was sited in Mubi South of Adamawa State and the construction is ongoing. It has reached 60 to 70 percent of completion”
“Three bridges were constructed in Madagali and Michika all in Adamawa State among other projects sited in the state. We also want to inform the petitioners and Nigerians that there are no abandoned projects in Jalingo, Sadauna, Zing and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba State. All the allegations are fictitious, malicious and imaginations of the petitions to achieve their selfish aim of black mailing the commission through cheap publicity” .
“The petitioners were ignorant on how government agencies operate, they don’t know that all government agencies, ministries and departments have ethics that guide their establishment, including the mandate given to them and clear guidelines on how they operate.
“They don’t know rules and regulations guiding their activities and operations, they have the appropriate place to report all their activities, not to the unidentified agencies. If they can walk to the commission and seek to know the information about the projects, they will know the position of everything once they agree to listen to them,” the statement reads.
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