Tracking: ICPC hands over diverted ambulances to community hospital in Sokoto

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Monday, handed over two recovered ambulances that were diverted to the Hajia Rakiya Maternity Hospital, Sabon Birnin Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

Supreme News reports that the vehicles were recovered by the commission through its constituency and the Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).

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.

output:Tukur-Idris said the vehicles were part of a health clinic project embarked on by the then Senator representing the Sokoto-East Senatorial Zone, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir.

He said that during the ICPC tracking exercise, the ambulances were traced to different locations other than where the lawmaker stated was its destination, the hospital.

He added that the vehicles and their accessories were intact at the commission’s office since then and all necessary investigations have been completed.

“The ambulances are hereby handed over to the community for onwards use by the citizens.

“I urge the council authority, healthcare workers, and community members to ensure judicial use of the vehicle,” the resident ICPC commissioner said.

He explained that CEPTI had saved the country hundreds of millions of Naira through its investigation of projects awarded and abandoned as well as recovery of government properties in the hands of individuals and private companies.

“Some uncompleted projects not only deprive Nigerians of basic amenities and infrastructure, but also pose security risks,” Tukur-Idris said.

He underlined the importance of the private sector in monitoring the implementation of constituency projects in the country, stressing, ”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 shortchanges 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,” the ICPC resident commissioner said.

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 and District Head of Unguwar, Mai lalle, expressed gratitude to the commission for its prompt response to public complaints.

He commended ICPC for the commitment in combating all forms of corrupt activities and assured of judicious use of the vehicles.

Supreme News reports that Malam Rabi’u S-Gobir, the Personnel Assistant to former Sen. Gobir witnessed the handing over along with other ICPC officials.