Niger Delta Ministry short-changes Cross River by N1.4b in two projects – Investigation

Story by crossriverwatch admin

Cross River Watch investigations have revealed that the Ministry of Niger Delta has
short-changed Cross River State to the tune of N1.358 billion. This amount is the
budgeted funds for two different projects in different part of the state.

The ministry in 2009 allocated N150milliojn to the Ubane Utanga Water Project in
Obanlikwu Local Government, same project was allocated N195million in 2010 and
N50million in 2011 and N516million in 2012 totalling N911million in 4years.

The Erei Electrification project was also allocated N100million in 2009, N97million
in 2010, N50million in 2011 and another N200million in 2012 bringing the entire sum
to N1.358billion in four years.

Cross River Watch investigation however reveal that the two projects have long been
abandoned by the contractors. In fact, the Ubane Utanga water project site was said
to have been abandoned immediately after inspectors went to inspect the project
site.

In a telephone interview with a journalist, activist and coordinator
kickthemout2015.org, Mr. Agba Jalingo, he said “the intentions that prompted the
creation of the ministry were borne from a settlement driven mentality and not a
development driven mentality. In other words, the ministry was not created to work.
It was created to settle a grouse. To that purpose and intent, it is achieving its
goals. But for addressing the salient issues that gave rise to arms bearing in the
region, it’s still a far cry. The ministry can barely lay claim to any tangible
success not only in Cross River but also in other parts of the region”.

The fiery activist who hails from Obudu LGA accused the Minister if NIger Delta
Affairs of converting the ministry’s allocation into slush funds for
neighbour-to-neighbour and other such political settlements that negate what the
people expected from the ministry. “Elder Godswill Orubebe has turned the ministry’s
allocations to handouts for political jobbers and neighbour-to-neighbour”.

He called on well meaning Cross Riverians and the Government of Liyel Imoke to join
hands and call the ministry’s attention to the abandoned projects and ensure
contractors return to site and complete work or invite the anti-corruption agencies
to ensure the monies are retrieved.