The spiraling security challenges facing Nigeria in recent times has made the country seem like a nation on the wrong side of the world’s divide.
Equally, a toxic mix of security threats, Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling amongst other forms of criminalities is threatening to tear Africa’s most populous nation and it’s largest economy apart. A call for concerted efforts to stem the tide of insecurity in the land as well as the rebuilding of areas destroyed by insurgents are all under threat.
When the North East Development Commission (NEDC), was established by the Federal Government after agitations by opinion leaders, Nigerians, especially people of the NorthEastern States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgents, many within and outside the country breathed a sigh of relief. But, alas the NEDC according to our investigations has become a honey pot.
Impeccable source within the Commission, who does not want to be mentioned in this report, said the current management of the Commission is currently engaging in what the well-placed source described as ‘‘reckless misappropriation of the NEDC fund that warrants full scale investigation by Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC).
The source went on to say that “not only is the Mohammed Goni Akali led management of the NEDC failing in its core mandate of rebuilding the devastated region, but on the contrary, the commission has diverted the funds allocated to the Commission into slush funds for fuelling the sudden resurgence of insurgency in the region.”
BornoTV.com reports that the recent upsurge in Boko Haram attacks to a very large extent gives credence to such allegations. Hitherto, many believe that the terrorist group may be deriving its strength from saboteurs in government circles.
Now This: A Commission charged with the responsibility to rebuild,
amongs other things, receives and manages funds from the Federation Account, International Donors – to benefit resettlement of internally displaced persons, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency as well as tackle the menace of poverty, illiteracy level, ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the affected North-East States now casts a shadow on President Muhammadu Buhari lead administration’s drive to bring succour to the lives of no fewer than 33 million people affected by the insurgency.
The Chairman of the Commission, however, has been sidelined and tied down using age threats and removal threats due to his negative testimony at the presidential election tribunal.
Borno Tv
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