The committee registered its displeasure during an investigative hearing
on Tuesday in Abuja while quizzing the Permanent Secretary in the Federal
Ministry of Works, Dr Yakubu Adam on the project.
The hearing was on the inspection of
critical national assets especially roads that were constructed in the last
five years.
The Chairman of the committee Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP-Osun) said that the
money for the project was a loan by the Federal Government.
“Information we received from the Debt Management Office indicated the number
of roads were even undertaken with loans taken by the federal government.
“But in particular, a particular road with the
title Gidanwaya-Guaran Dutse-Waman Rafi-Saminaka-Kano road in Kaduna State
awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works on the October 5, 2022 and the sum of
N1.461 billion paid to Messrs Jam Jam Dynamic Platform Limited.
“This road was supposed to be completed within 12 months; there is an
allegation that the road awarded in 2022 has not been started as we speak and
there has been full payment of the sum by the Federal Ministry of Works to the
contractor concerned,” he said.
However, the permanent secretary in his response explained that the amount was not for the entire stretch of the road which is 133km.
He explained that the money was only for a portion of the road saying that the road was to be done in phases due to paucity of funds.
The official, however, expressed surprise that the road had not been done since the contract was awarded by the ministry following the report available to the committee.
He apologised to the committee for not honouring previous invitations saying that they did not get to him.
The committee resolved that the permanent secretary must return on Monday, November 4 and must submit all relevant documents related to the project by Friday, November 1.
“We asked
for certain documents to be provided and we expect that you would provide us
with better insight so the committee can take a decision on the best way to
ascertain the truthfulness of the claim that the road has been done, while full
payment has been effected to the contractor,” he said.
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