How We Recovered N3.7bn From NDDC – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday revealed that law enforcement agencies recovered over N3.7billion as well as various assets worth billions of Naira from contractors and former directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He made this known during the inauguration of NDDC Advisory Committee, comprising 9 Governors of the Niger Delta Region and the Ministers of Niger Delta Affairs and Environment.

According to the president, Government agencies have placed liens on over N6 billion of assets which are being investigated.

Buhari urged the newly inaugurated committee to discharge the new assignment diligently and effectively, working closely with the relevant ministries.

Buhari recalled that in 2016, his administration launched the “New Vision for the Niger Delta (NEVIND)”, aimed at bringing sustainable peace, security, infrastructure and human capital development to the region.

He said the medium to achieve this noble objective was through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NDDC and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

He, however, lamented the inability of these institutions to deliver their mandates due to mismanagement.

‘”As a result, the people of the Niger Delta were left with abandoned infrastructural projects and substandard social programmes which were designed to improve their living conditions,” he said.

“It is to reverse this trend that I approved, in February 2020, the constitution of a 10-Man Presidential Monitoring Committee (PMC) as provided for in Section 21 of the NDDC Establishment Act.”

Speaking further, Buhari noted that the inauguration of the NDDC Advisory Committee is in line with the provisions of Section 11 (I) of the NDDC Establishment Act.

President Buhari said the Committee is charged with the responsibility of advising the Board and monitoring its activities.

On the inauguration of the Committee ahead of the reconstitution of the NDDC Board, President Buhari said: “This is to enable us develop insights into the affairs of the Commission which will properly guide the Board when reconstituted once the Forensic Audit exercise on the Commission is concluded.

“You may recall that the Federal Executive Council, on the 5th of February, 2020 approved the appointment of the Lead Forensic Auditors.

“I am told they are concluding their pre-engagement activities and should be ready to commence work soon.”