The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun tracking 72 projects worth N16.3 billion across Kogi three senatorial districts.

The ICPC assistant commissioner, Wale David, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Saturday in Lokoja.

According to him, the team aims to ensure projects meet specifications and deliver value to communities.

“The ICPC will recover funds for uncompleted projects and investigate cases of sub-standard work.

“Contractors will be required to upgrade projects that don’t meet standards,” Mr David said.

He said the exercise would cover power, water, road, housing, and empowerment programs, with the team verifying beneficiaries and project quality.

He noted that though the team might face challenges tracking empowerment programmes, but the commission will work diligently to verify beneficiaries.

“The exercise started in Lokoja with the N6.2 billion Federal Secretariat Complex and N6.4 billion Inland River Port projects.

“The goal is to ensure communities benefit from projects and contractors deliver quality work, or face repercussions for sub-standard jobs,” he said.

He urged community members to claim ownership of the projects, recognising them as their own.

He noted that a quantity surveyor, Ogunseemi Bayo, is assisting the team in assessing project costs and quality.

He emphasised that the tracking exercise will cover all 21 local government areas in the state.

The commission stressed the initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability in government contracting, ensuring Kogi communities receive the benefits of federal projects. 

(NAN)