…Debunks claim of payment of money into a microfinance bank
By Hillary Asemota
In adherence to international and global best practices, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has directed Messrs. Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Nigeria Limited to immediately resume work on the 15 kilometres Eleme to Onne Junction on the East-West Road, Rivers State.
The construction company was suspended during the Minister’s unscheduled inspection visit to the project site on Saturday 27th January.
The media learnt that the suspension of the company was due to observed infractions and due to non compliance to standard and construction specifications.
The Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, Barr. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, said the directive to return to site is in accordance with the resolutions reached in a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and key Directors of the Ministry together with top management staff of RCC Ltd.
The meeting which was held at his office at the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi- Abuja, on Monday 29th had ordered the suspension of work on the project due to substandard jobs wherein the management of the company reported to the Ministry for resolution of technical issues.
The Minister, according to Orji, further directs the contractors handling the project to resume work on the four sections of the project adding that they must adhered to strict compliance with the contract specifications.
The company was also required to laise with the Permanent Secretary and the Director in charge of construction to engage with the representatives of the host communities on issues bothering on alleged infringement on the contractors’ right of way which according to them slows down the project.
He reiterated that the Minister is determined to see to the speedy and quality delivery of Federal Government’s roads that are presently undergoing one form of reconstruction across the nation in line with the vision of the Renewed Hope administration of President Asiwaju BolaTinubu.
According to him, the Federal Government is unbending in its resolve not to accept the delivery of jobs that fall short of standard.
Meanwhile, the Minister has debunked claim in some quarters that funds for construction of roads was fraudulently paid into a Microfinance Bank contrary to extant regulations.
While dismissing the insinuation as nothing short of fake news, he said: “Let me also use the opportunity to debunk something that is ongoing in the social media. I don’t know what they call the group, Is it Tracta Budgit or something which claims they’re monitoring the budget of federal government; said that we paid N8.7 billion to the microfinance bank.”
Addressing the media in Rivers State during the inspection of the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway being reconstructed by Arab Contractors Ltd, Umahi further disclosed that the organisation “went ahead and said, that the N8.7 billion were paid against a number of projects in Ekiti State, in Kaduna State, Kastina State and Borno State between June and September, 2023.
The Minister while debunking further the erroneous claim by Tracka Budgit stated that as at June 2023, “he was in the Senate.
“So, if they are correct, it means the contracts would have been awarded while I was still a Governor, so not a minister.”
On the payments to a Microfinance bank, the Minister explained that as at July, “I was in the Senate Up to the 20th of August.”
He, however explained concerning the payments to a Microfinance Bank that “when a contractor has done his or her work, the money becomes his money. He can say pay it to any bank of his choice.”
Umahi, described as very mischievous the claim by the organisation stating that they should have investigated “whether the job was done, that is the only right they have. But they don’t have the right to say where a contractor will say his money will be paid.
He submitted therefore that “whether it’s paid in microfinance bank or macrofinance bank, what is paramount to establish if the funds were rightly paid for good work done.”
He averred that it was an attempt to distract his commitment to delivering on the Renewd Hope Agenda of President Tinubu for the road sector development in Nigeria.
“And so, it’s just a distraction. And then, some of the bank contractors are using them to fight back. But I refuse to be distracted, he restated.
On his efforts to ensure quality delivery of road projects through partnership with the States, Umahi said “let me also say that in all the states, it’s our policy that the state governors, through their appointed officials, must mark off any project, especially the emergency, palliative projects.
He said when a contractor has completed a job, no matter how big it is, my advice is for the state governor to come to the site and look at it and then mark off the job before he gets to office for payment.
He strongly affirmed that “Where this procedure is not done, I will not sign any generated certificate.”
