Skip to main content

FRC decries poor supervision of government’s projects

fiscal-responsibility-commission

fiscal-responsibility-commission

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), has decried the shoddy supervision of government’s projects by the awarding federal ministries and relevant authorities, describing it as a disservice to the nation.

The FRC’s Chairman, Victor Muruako, expressed the concern at Ugboha, Essan South-East Local Government Area of Edo, after verifying the N2.47 billion Federal Government water supply project in the area.

The chairman and some officials of the commission on a verification tour of Federal Government projects in the Niger Delta, had earlier visited the Ogwashi-Uku Multi-Purpose Earth Dam project in Delta.

He accused the ministries and the agencies of conniving with the contractors to defraud the nation by allowing the full payment for such contracts without being completed.

He said: “These problems are clear manipulations of human beings. There are lapses between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Benin/Owena River Basin Authority.

“From what I have seen from this project verification exercise, I can say without any contradiction, that there has been near zero supervision of the projects by most supervisors.

“There are situations where things go overtly wrong and the supervisors cannot raise alarm and have issues with the contractors. They are obviously working with the contractors.

“In this case, they have allowed the full payment of the contract sum of N2.47 billion. The contractor has also been allowed to collect the retention for the contract while the water scheme is not functioning.

At Ogwashi-Uku, he expressed displeasure that the N3.6 billion multipurpose dam was not near completion even when the contractor, Nelson Benjamin Ltd. had been paid N3.3 billion.

Muruako said it was disheartening that the hydro power component of the project had not started, while the drainage system of the three kilometre access road to the dam was a sham.

He expressed disappointment that the contractor was not on site to explain issues even when he was duly informed about the visit.

He called on the Edo and Delta governments to show interest in the projects because they were for the benefit of the people of the states.

“I want governments of Delta, Edo and indeed other states in the federation to take special interest in the projects located in their areas.

“These projects are ultimately the property of the state governments, local governments and indeed the communities where they are located.

“I don’t see that attitude here and I condemn it totally. People are lackadaisical about such projects.

“The contractors should be called to account for all these. Government knows what to do in this case and we will do our own report and submit to Mr President,” he added.

The Project Engineer of the Essan water scheme, Mr Etim Akakam, however, said that the project was awarded to the contractor, CGC Nig. Ltd. in 2005 and was completed in 2011.

According to him, the water scheme was not inaugurated on completion because of misunderstanding among the people of the area.

At Ogwashi-Uku, Mr Ben Obi, the Resident Engineer of the Consultant, Vibro Engineering Company, conducted the team round the dam project.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...
Post a Comment
Read more