BEVERLY HILLS, May 16, (THEWILL) – The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has concluded arrangements to terminate about six abandoned projects spread across the region with a view to enhance the development of the region.
This was revealed by the Minister, Pastor Uguru Usani, while receiving the report on the audit and review of the East-west road and other project of the Ministry in Abuja saying that the projects were proposed for termination as a result of lack of capacity to complete the work as witnessed on site.
Usani declared that the decision was made following the report from the Ministerial Technical Audit Committee on the contracts awarded from 2009 – 2015 in the Niger Delta adding that the committee juxtaposed its findings from project sites against facts retrieved from available documents domiciled in the departments that supervised the projects.
He listed the projects to include construction of Okpuhuta/Mbano Junction – Orie market –Lomara – Igwebulka (35km) in Abia State; Land reclamation and Erosion control project at OguduAbia Phase I, Abia State.
Others are Idoro-Eastern Itam Water Supply Scheme Akwa Ibom; Construction of Mbak Atai-Ikot Ntu-Mkpeti/Okuiboku road project (13.86km) Akwa Ibom State; Ukparam Water Supply Scheme and Construction and Supervision of Omelema – Agada II Road, Rivers State (14.415km).
“Gross lack of capacity problem, lack of seriousness on the project, lack of technical capacity to prosecute project and gross lack of competence by the contractors,” he said.
“Prominent among other issues of violation were indiscriminate award of contract by initiating and benefiting departments without the leading and guiding role of the procurement department.
“There were violation of contract award process; Right from the cycle of procurement planning to contract award, the committee noticed inconsistencies with the provisions of vital aspects of the Procurement Act.
“Awards never took cognizance of availability of funds and annual appropriation provisions. Most contracts were awarded with specific dates of completion but were not captured in subsequent appropriations.
“This manifestly, emanated from inconsistency in government annual budgetary provision and lack of capacity to deliver especially where funds released do not correspond with performance.
“Consequently, no capital project was completed within the stipulated time frame.”
