http://allafrica.com/stories/200907240791.html

Abuja — Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs said on Thursday that the N230 billion contracts for East West Road projects in the Niger Delta region were awarded without design.

The revelation came as the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta ordered Julius Berger Plc to refund N6 billion which was part of the funds it collected as mobilisation fee for the construction of a section of the road.


Committee Chairman, Olaka Nwogu, gave the order during a meeting with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Ufot Ekaette, in Abuja.

Ekaette, accompanied by the Minister of State, Godswill Orubebe, and other top officials of the ministry were in the House to present detailed work plan of the ministry for the implementation of the 2009 budget.

Various sections of the projects were awarded to Julius Berger Plc, Gitto Engineering Company, Setraco Construction Company and Reynold Construction Company in 2006 by the defunct of the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Urban Development.

Director of Infrastructure in the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Emmanuel Egbagbe, while responding to questions by the committee members said the projects were not designed before the contracts were awarded by the Obasanjo administration in 2006.

Nwogu said the committee was concerned about the slow pace of work on some ongoing projects in the oil rich region, noting that JBN pulled out of the N11 billion East-West road projects in 2008 due largely to insecurity of its staff working on the project.

Awarded by the FG or by Niger-Delta govt?

Fhemmmy:

Awarded by the FG or by Niger-Delta govt?

Awarded by FG (obasanjo) in 2006 but has now been handed over to the ministry of niger-delta i think.

Black_Revo:

Awarded by FG (obasanjo) in 2006 but has now been handed over to the ministry of niger-delta i think.

Anytime i hear the name OBJ, i get upset.
The dude was the biggest 419 Nigeria ever seen.

N230 billion awarded without any design. God! What a jawdropping scandal!