The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged slow pace of the Ijebu-Igbo Ibadan road project and the inflation of the contract sum from N9.8 billion to N54 billion has visited the project site.

The visit by the committee is to ascertain the alleged inflation of the contract sum.

The committee’s chairman, Kwamoti Laori, led other members to assess the level of work done against the backdrop of Messrs DC Engineering company’s allegations over contract sum inflation.

During the investigative hearing, DC Engineering alleged that a lawmaker conspired with Federal Ministry of Works officials to re-award the contract.

Ade Adedeji, the executive director, DC Engineering Ltd., had alleged that the contract was re-awarded to another contractor from its original contract sum of N9.8 billion to N54 billion.

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) cancelled its certificate of ‘No Objection’ it issued Areatech Construction Ltd. earlier, maintaining that DC Engineering was the original contractor and was still on site.

BPP based its action on the ground that no project shall be re-awarded to another company without terminating the initial contract.

BPP confirmed its withdrawal of the no objection certificate to Areatech Construction Ltd. in its letter of May 10 addressed to the solicitor of DC Engineering Ltd.

Meanwhile, during the lawmakers’ oversight visit, the committee chairman assured the community and DC Engineering Ltd. that they were on tour of the project site for an assessment.

The chairman said the House of Representatives would ensure everything was settled amicably to ensure the project’s completion.

The tour covered the entire 41km road project, which included Iyana Shehu, Ile-Epo Lucas Station, Ile-Epo Inukan, Olunde Junction, Fatusi Bridge, Arogo, Aiyegun Market, and Lanfa Bridge, among others.

Some officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, DC Engineering Ltd., and several other workers were in attendance during the lawmakers’ visit to the site. 

(NAN)