BARAKAT DRAINAGE: MINISTRY RETURNS TO SITE AFTER ENetSuD PETITION TO EFCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN4gM9pbfUA

The Federal Ministry of Environment and the Mash Construction Company Limited (the Contractor that poorly executed the drainage project at Barakat Community School at Alfa Yahyah – Ita Amoh area of Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State), have been returned to site by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a convincing petition written by Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD) against the them.

It will be recalled that ENetSuD, in a petition written to EFCC and ICPC on 6th June, 2019, told the antigraft agencies that Barakat Community Erosion Control project was poorly executed and does not commensurate with the fund released (https://enetsud.org/2019/06/06/barakat-community-drainage-%E2%82%A641-million-paid-to-contractor-is-questionable-enetsud-tells-icpc/).

In the concluding part of the petition, ENetSuD told the antigraft agencies that “the sub-total amount for project bills (excluding 5% VAT) is ₦45,238,095.2, which includes Bill 1 (₦3,600,000), Bill 2 (₦9,480,000) and Bill 3 (₦32,158,095.2). Due to the fact that many structures provided for in Bill 3 were not found on site, and the cost ENetSuD arrived at for the available structures as per Bill 3 is ₦4,891,275.6 instead of ₦32,158,095.2 stated by the Ministry; the costs of other Bills 1 and 2 that could not be assessed are also questionable. How the contractor was paid ₦41,003,131 despite the non-commensurate work on the site is not understood and needs further investigation. Therefore, all the components of the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) should be revisited in relation to the executed works on the site, as we are of the conviction that the project execution is a waste of public fund that has neither served its purpose nor added value to the subsisting erosion and flooding in the community, in addition to the gross inflation of contract sum”.

After thorough investigation of ENetSuD’s petition by the Ilorin Zonal Office of EFCC, the contractor was seen on the 5th September 2019 at site changing the parts he earlier fraudulently constructed with blocks against the BEME to concrete. ENetSuD lauds EFCC for her meticulousness on the project’s investigation and ensuring that the Ministry and Contractor return to site to do proper work. This development is commended by ENetSuD, as our primary interest is to ensure that all projects funded by taxpayers money are executed in accordance with the approved standards and specifications, so that Kwara money will work for Kwarans. ENetSuD vows not to relent in ensuring that its #FollowKwaraMoney activities end diversion of public funds through the budget.

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