The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has dismissed allegation that it misappropriated the N6.25 billion fund meant for the procurement and distribution of palliatives to people of Niger Delta.
The former Chairman of NDDC COVID-19 Palliatives Distribution Committee, Sobomabo Jackrich, had alleged in a petition that N6.25 billion released to procure palliatives was misappropriated.
Mr Charles Odili, the Director of Corporate Affairs, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Thursday, insisted the fund was judiciously distributed as endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the fund was used to purchase 17 medical kits, consisting of 705 items, as well as other palliatives.
“The intervention fund also covered two other components, including distribution of food items to vulnerable people and carrying out public sensitisation.
“The medical kits procured and distributed by the commission includes, 27 trilogy 202 ventilators, 65 ECG machines, 54 RT PCR machines, 18 APC smart digital UPS 5KVA and 36 infra-red thermometers.
“Others are 18 double jar suction machines, 18 fluid warmers, 18 multi parameter patient monitors, 94 standard ICU beds, 95 oxygen cylinders and 95 infusion pumps.
“Also, 18 mobile X-ray machines, 18 mobile ultrasound machines, 18 mobile dialysis machines and 18 arterial blood gas machines were procured and distributed,” he said.
Odili said the equipment has since been distributed to governments of the nine Niger Delta states, pointing out that the intervention had boosted testing and treatment of patients in the area.
The NDDC spokesman debunked allegations that the N6.25 billion was misappropriated by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission.
“The false claim is from same forces that have been waging a campaign of falsehood against the commission and its management since the forensic audit began.
“We re-assure our stakeholders that the IMC is honest in the management of the common trust in their care,” he said.
In a related development, NDDC acting Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei said that the commission had inaugurated a committee to oversee the inauguration of its multi-billion naira 13-floor permanent headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Pondei was quoted by Odili as having said during the inauguration of the committee that the new office was in its final phase of completion.
“NDDC has been a tenant, operating out of rented building for over 20 years of its existence.
“The committee will be chaired by acting Executive Director of Projects, Dr Cairo Ojougboh.
“The inauguration of NDDC permanent headquarters is a testimony to the resilience of the commission under the IMC to bring this project to an end after 20 years,” he added.
