A compendium of all uncompleted or abandoned projects in the Niger Delta which were financed with public fund is being compiled with a view to reawakening the consciousness of the constituents in ensuring that such projects are fully put in place.
A group, Social Development Integrated Centre a.k.a Social Action with the support from Mac-Arthur Foundation in partnership with International Centre for Women Empowerment and Child Development which is putting its search lights on the projects, said its aim was to fight corruption which had bedeviled development in the region where projects meant to serve the people better were abandoned after so much money had been paid.
The programme manager of social action Mr. Botti Isaac, at a recent meeting with critical stakeholders including media, civil societies in Asaba at the weekend, said “we will continue to bring cases of corruption in Niger Delta to the front burner”.
Mr. Isaac noted it was a clear case of neglect in the region because the money so far spent on development was not reflecting on the lives of the people.
According to him, the group was ready to investigate reports on corruption where contractors collected money for projects and disappeared into the thing air.
“There will be mass movement of the citizens in the area where such projects are sited against corruption and the contractors themselves; we will collaborate with relevant agencies including Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and police to ensure that offenders were brought to book.
“Even when actions are not taken against those individuals or companies found wanting, we will push them (relevant agencies) to prosecute the offenders. By so doing, we hope most of the abandoned projects including those of development commissions such as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and State Oil Producing Development Area Commission in the region”, Mr. Isaac asserted.