The spate of abandoned projects in the Niger Delta is a source of worry to the Minister of Niger/Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani as he Wednesday, expressed shock over the litany of abandoned projects in the region.
He lamented that only 12 percent of projects worth 700 billion naira have been completed since the creation of the Niger/Delta Ministry in 2009.
The Minister spoke while receiving the reports of the Technical Audit Committee on Projects of the Niger/Delta Ministry, chaired by Engineer Yerima Bulama, a retired Federal Director.
Usani noted that out of the 427 projects worth 700 billion naira, the Ministry had disbursed 414 billion naira to various contractors, but regretted that 90 percent of the projects were uncompleted projects littering across the 9 states of the region.
The minister stated that about six billion naira would have to be returned to the Ministry in cash for non-existence projects, warning that the Ministry would not hesitate to invite anti-graft agencies to recover the money from the contractors.
He explained further that while 18 percent of the projects remained stalled, 70 percent were on-going and 60 percent of the funds have been disbursed.
Usani listed some of the projects to include training, electrification, water supply, roads construction, land reclamation and housing, skill acquisition, environmental conservation and costal system as well as food and cassava production.
He gave the success of the projects in the states as Rivers state 43 percent, Delta state 26 percent, Abia state 7 percent, Akwa Ibom state 7 percent, Imo state 6 percent, Ondo state 4 percent, Bayelsa state 3 percent, Edo and Cross Rivers State 2 percent each.
He added that on assumption of office in November last year, the Ministry decided to inaugurate the Committee to carry out assessment of all projects being executed by the Ministry with a view to authenticate them and prioritise their implementation based on available resources.
“We did this not to probe or witch-haunt anybody, but to add value to government expenditures and ensure that the intention of the government is met. We are also aware that not many people will be happy with us in this era of change especially with the steps the government has taken to address the problems facing the country.
“However, we cannot turn our face away from the conflicts arising from what is on ground regarding the projects being handled by this Ministry in the Niger/Delta and the claims of the contractors and other stakeholders. We have to ensure that the litany of projects seen abandoned in the Niger/Delta are not abandoned, so many people who are involved regarding the phanton projects would still allege prosecution because of their misdeeds.
“We are passionate about the report of this Committee even though it would be subjected to second analysis so that whatever comes out of it would stand the test of time. We will also use it to keep track of government social responsibility to the people,” the Minister asserted.
The Minister lauded members of the Committee for doing a good job, adding that beyond their assignment, the officials of the Ministry also deserve commendation for the support it gave the committee by making relevant documents available for the assignment.
The Chairman of the Committee, Eng Yerima Bulama in his speech noted that about 230 billion naira are still to be paid to contractors handling various projects in the region, but he lamented the way and manner abandoned projects littered the Niger/Delta area. He said it was akin to the story of a rich man who left various uncompleted buildings for his children only for them to live in poverty and without roofs on their heads.
He expressed shock that some projects running to over six billion naira could not be located, while some have no basis to continue. He accused the Ministry officials for failing to follow due process and for violation of the Public Procurement Act in the awards of contracts, stressing that the cost intelligence unit in the Ministry was also non active.
The Committee Chairman also said there was duplication of duties in the implementation of Niger/Delta projects, stating that in Rivers State for instance the Ministry was laying claim to the supply and installation of electicity transformer while the NNDC was also laying claim to the same project.
He advised that the projects should be re-aligned to safe cost and add value to the lives of the people while government should ensure that contractors linked to the phanton projects were made to refund money disbursed to them to government coffers.
The Minister of state for Niger/Delta, Professor Cladius Daramola in his remarks said the present administration has not awarded any contract in the Niger/Delta, maintaining that all the projects were awarded by previous administrations since 2009.
He said it was shocking that contractors who did not execute a single project would yet be approaching the government for payment even in an era of change. He said: “A contractor came to me and asked me to pay him 17 million naira, showing the photographs of two blocks of class rooms he built in my state. So when we visited Ondo state with the Minister, they did not allow us to enter the town where the projects were supposedly built. If I have approved the money, by now I will be in Kuje prison.”
