Alleged N20bn diversion: NAPS petitions EFCC over intervention fund
Members of the National Association of Polytechnic Students have protested the alleged diversion of more than N20bn intervention funds for the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria.
The protesters, led by the President of the association, Muniru Opeyemi, took the protest to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, where they submitted petitions to the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, respectively on Friday.
While calling on the EFCC to without delay launch an investigation into the allegation of diversion of the intervention fund meant for training of students and development of the CTIN, the students also urged the Federal Government to dissolve the board of the institute with immediate effect.
Opeyemi said, “We demand an immediate investigation, arrest, and prosecution of Cement Technology Institute’s leadership to unravel the details about the status, management, and use of the over N20bn (about $100m) contributed as levies on imported cement to the CTIN for technical training purposes over 10 years ago when Nigeria was still importing cement by chairman Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.”
The petition addressed to the EFCC chairman and entitle, “Petition on allegation of Diversion of N20bn Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria Intervention Fund,” read in part, “Our local intelligence following our independent investigation as to the causes of the unprecedented hike in cement price, reveals the poor management and diversion of a whopping sum of N20bn intervention fund meant for cement technology development by some individuals heading the CTIN.
“It’s unpatriotic to divert intervention funds meant for the development of cement technology. As technology inclined students, we are highly disappointed in the leadership of the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria for this carelessness and a perceived act of fraud and criminal diversion of the commonwealth.
“We strongly believe if the fund is utilised, we should be the beneficiaries as technical students from the polytechnic sector in Nigeria. It’s on this note we are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to as a matter of urgency commence a probe of the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria.” Punch
