The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor( Dr) Usani Uguru Usani has said that the Technical Audit Report On Projects in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs sent to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) was yielding results as some of the the contractors had returned to sites to continue work.
Usani stated this at the Valedictory meeting held at the mniistry’s conference room in Abuja.
Usani advised that there should be a committed desk officer in the ministry to follow up on that assignment for better results.
He also stressed the need for proper documentation of files for easy retrieval.
“So when one file gets missing it could be retrieved easily.”
The minister noted that there was a high level of harmony in the ministry, adding that there had never been issues unresolved within 24 hours.
Usani, expressed profound gratitude to his former colleague, the Hon.Minister of State of Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Omoleye Daramola for a good working relationship.
“We came as strange fellows but are leaving as brothers.”
He also commended the Permanent Secretary, Aminu Aliyu Bisalla, directors and staff for their support and advice which resulted to the achievements recorded during their tenure.
Usani said that when the Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP) for the development of the Niger Delta Region which the ministry initiated became operational there would be rapid development in the region without project duplication and waste of resources.
He added that they were leaving a good team behind.
Earlier, the former Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Omoleye Daramola expressed his gratitude to the former Honorable Minister for his commitment to develop the human capacity development in the Niger Delta region, especially in training youths and women to address the issue of yuouths restiveness and insecurity in the region.
He advised that the training should continue and attention should be given to the welfare of the senior citizens of the Niger Delta as well.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aminu Aliyu Bissalla also commended the ministers for a job well done.
He, however, noted that one of the challenges of the Ministry is operating from the Federal Capital Territory which was limiting the contact with the people of the Niger Delta region. He sought the assistance of the former ministers to address that challenge in order to serve the Niger Deltans better.
He also raised the issue of lack of coordination of projects and programmes by development partners in the Niger Delta region which should be sorted out for the sustainable development of the region.
Stephen Kilebi
DD (Press)
May 30,2019.
