Musa Na Allah Sokoto
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on Monday handed over two ambulances to Hajia Rakiya Maternally Hospital Sabon Birnin in Sokoto state.
The vehicles were tracked and apprehended by ICPC officials through the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) by the commission officials.
Mr Garba Tukur-Idris, the ICPC Resident Commissioner in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, presented the vehicles
to the community leader, Alhaji Aliyu Gobir, on behalf of the benefiting communities.
Tukur-Idris said the vehicles were part of a health clinic project embarked on by the then Senator representing Sokoto-East Senatorial zone, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir.
He noted that during the ICPC tracking exercise, the ambulances were traced to different locations besides the lawmaker’s stated destination.
He added that the vehicles and their accessories have been intact at the commission’s office since then and all necessary investigations have been completed.
The ICPC resident commissioner said: “The ambulances are hereby handed over to the community for onward use by the citizens.
“I urge the council authority, healthcare workers, and community members to ensure judicial use of the vehicle.”
He explained that CEPTI had saved the country hundreds of millions of naira in the process through various phases, explaining that “some uncompleted projects not only deprive Nigerians of basic amenities and infrastructure but also pose security risks.”
He underlined the importance of the private sector in monitoring the implementation of constituency projects in the country, saying “Completed projects are major dividends of democracy, which foster growth and development at the grassroots.
“However, lack of accountability in the execution of projects is a red flag of systemic corruption that shortchanged the electorate and deprives them of beneficial social systems that should be readily available.
“The private sector has a major role to play in identifying and preventing corruption in project execution.”
He appreciated the increased impact of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NGOs, and other stakeholders in the private sector and sought more support.
Responding after receiving the vehicles, the community leader who is the District Head of Unguwar Mai lalle, expressed gratitude to the commission for its prompt response to public complaints.
He commended ICPC for its commitment against all forms of corrupt activities and assured judicious use of the vehicle.
Newsmen reports that Malam Rabi’u S-Gobir, the Personnel Assistant to former Sen. Gobir witnessed the handing over along with other ICPC officials.
