A petition has been submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by members of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, expressing their dissatisfaction over the alleged misappropriation of over N20bn in intervention funds intended for the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria.
Led by the association’s President, Muniru Opeyemi, the protesters marched to the offices of the EFCC and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. They handed over their petitions to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, respectively, on Friday.
The students are urging the EFCC to promptly investigate the diversion of funds meant for student training and CTIN development. They are also calling for the immediate dissolution of the institute’s board by the Federal Government.
Opeyemi emphasized the need for an immediate probe, arrest, and prosecution of the CTIN leadership to clarify the utilization of the over N20bn contribution, collected as levies on imported cement over a decade ago. He blamed the leadership of CTIN and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for the mismanagement.
In the petition titled “Petition on allegation of Diversion of N20bn Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria Intervention Fund,” the students expressed disappointment in the mismanagement of the intervention fund meant for cement technology development, which they believe could have benefited technical students in Nigeria.
“It is unacceptable to divert funds intended for cement technology development. As students in the technical field, we are deeply disappointed in the leadership of the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria for their negligence and alleged fraudulent diversion of public funds,” the petition added.
The students are adamant that the EFCC should urgently investigate the matter surrounding the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria for the sake of transparency and accountability.