Metro
Transparency groups allege massive corruption in NEDC
Two transparency groups have threatened to drag the leadership of North East Development Commission (NEDC) to the EFCC and ICPC over alleged mismanagement of N146.19 billion.
The groups, People Advocacy for Transparency and Accountability (PATAI) and Al-Mushaid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA), gave the NEDC up to March 15, to respond to the allegations.
The Executive Chairman of PATAI, Mr Francis Bassey, and the President of AITA, Amb. Aminu Majidadi, issued the ultimatum during a joint news conference on Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, the commission has refused to respond to the petition earlier sent to it by some patriotic Nigerians.
He added that the two groups have also sent three reminders to the commission dated Janu. 18 and 31, as well as Feb. 14, 2023, without response.
Bassey explained that the core allegations bordered on corruption, financial misappropriation and abuse of office.
He claimed that the N146.19 billion was the budgetary allocation to the commission.
According to him, money has been paid in full for projects not completed or even abandoned.
“The abandoned projects include construction of central workshop in Maiduguri, Borno; construction of Birma Primary School at Kashimbila in Taraba; Madagali and Pinlla primary schools projects in Adamawa.
“Others are supply of equipment at Eye Clinic Centre in Azare; construction of ICT training centre; construction of College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, all in Bauchi state,” he said.
Bassey listed other abandoned projects to include the mass housing project in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, and 200 mass housing units in Nguru as well as a 300 mass housing project in Damatutru, both in Yobe.
He claimed that there were also abandoned projects in Jalingo, Sadauna, Zing and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba, among others.
According to him, the two groups have conducted thorough investigation of the claims in the petitions and awaiting the response of the NEDC.
He said that their concern was to ensure accountability in the handling of public funds so that it would benefit Nigerians.
“It is on the account of promoting transparency and accountability by holding those in authority accountable that we gave the Commission a chance to respond to issues of grave allegations raised against them.
“We also wrote several memos to the Commission to address the issues raised in the petitions against them. It is sad to note that they have not responded positively to our enquiries till date,” he stated.
Reacting to the allegations, the Head, Corporate Services, NEDC, Mr Abba Musa, denied the allegations, describing it as baseless.
“You and I know that in this regime it is not possible that you will mismanage over N146 billion and nothing will happen, the process itself will not make it possible. So, it is not true.
“No matter how, even your conscience will not allow you to do that, but truly speaking there is nothing like that.
“All I know is that I have met with them and I told them I was travelling and if I come back I will still see them.
“But if they decided to go the way of the media there is nothing anyone can do now. We will wait until we are officially invited,” Musa said.
The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment to provide healthcare facilities closer to the people.
Gov. Nasir El-rufai stated this during an inspection tour to a Primary Healthcare Center at Unguwar Shanu, on Thursday in Kaduna.
He said since the inception of his administration in 2015, it had embarked on the upgrading, equipping and staffing of primary healthcare centres across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
According to him, 255 primary healthcare centres across the state have been upgraded with the aim of ensuring easy access to health facilities by the people.
In an interview shortly after the tour, Gov. El-rufai expressed satisfaction with the achievement recorded so far by his administration in the health sector.
El-rufai noted that his administration has upgraded 290 health centers in the state, exceeding the initial target of 255 health centers.
He explained that so far, about N8 billion has been expended on the project and called on people of the state to key into the advantage provided by the government by registering with the Kaduna State health contributory scheme.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has started investigation into the train accident which occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Lagos.
This is contained in a statement by Tunji Oketunbi, General Manager, Public Affairs, of NSIB.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accident involved a Nigerian Railway Corporation passenger train and a Lagos State Government staff bus.
The bus was conveying workers to their offices in the Shogunle area of Lagos State when the accident occured.
The NSIB in the statement called for information from the general public.
It stated that such information should inlude pictures, video or recording evidences to assist the bureau in conducting a comprehensive investigation.
It also stated that NSIB could be reached through its website; info@aib.gov.ng and aibNigeria on its social media platforms.
It stated that the bureau could also be reached on its emergency line: +234-807-709-0909.
NAN reports that NSIB is a multimodal investigation agency charged with investigating transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria.
It aim is to identify the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations to prevent re-occurrence.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has commiserated with his Lagos counterpart, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the people of the state over Thursday’s train accident that left six people dead and many injured.
In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kunle Somorin, Abiodun expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
The governor noted that the staff bus collision with the train was an avoidable accident that had unfortunately claimed the lives of innocent workers.
He asked the Lagos governor and the people to take solace in the fact that others were receiving treatment and recuperating fast.
Abiodun also condole with the bereaved families, urging them to see the accident as an occurrence destined to happen, while believing that death is the annihilator of all things.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead and urged road and rail users to be cautious.
“We are deeply pained and shocked by this unfortunate occurrence. It is an avoidable one. We join in the mourning of our dear neighbours, and we pray that God in His mercies will repose the soul of the dead and grant them Heavenly passage.
“We urge the drivers on our roads as well as those in charge of our coaches to be more proactive and take utmost caution whether in public or private spaces,” he said.
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