Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, has uncovered the withdrawal of seventy billion naira cash by few officials from two bank accounts of Government House in the state.
Bello made this known while announcing the reduction of the state’s ministries from twenty-three to fourteen in a broadcast, during which he also announced the reduction of the number of permanent secretaries from fifty-four to twenty-five.
According to him, the administration would pursue the issue of looted fund retrieval in line with regulations, saying the committee on this issue had submitted its interim report.
Bello said the operation of the Joint Account was characterised by diversions and misapplications of huge funds, especially those paid to Ward Development Projects and ten kilometre road projects.
He said this accounted for why most of the ten kilometre road projects were abandoned by the contractors, concluding that the administration would continue to give priority to people-oriented projects and programmes.
