The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced the tracking of N10.6 billion constituency and executive projects approved for 2024 in Niger State.

The exercise covers 65 projects facilitated by senators and members of the House of Representatives across the state.

Shetiman Saleh, the team lead and chief superintendent of the ICPC Niger Office, said the tracking was to ensure projects executed with public funds meet approved specifications and deliver value to host communities.

“We want to ensure that they are not abandoned and that communities get value for the funds appropriated,” he added.

He explained that the projects span capital-intensive developments such as the construction of hospitals and schools, as well as empowerment initiatives including the provision of sewing machines, grinding machines, laptops, and other work tools.

According to him, the statewide exercise involves physical inspection of projects to ascertain compliance with approved standards.

“Where a project is satisfactorily done, we state that in our report. However, where there are issues such as abandonment, failure to mobilise to the site, or substandard execution, we take remedial actions,” Mr Saleh added.

Mr Saleh noted that the remedial measures include directing contractors to return to the site to complete or correct identified defects to prevent communities from losing the benefits of such projects.

He further disclosed that in cases of underperformance that cannot be remedied, the commission calculates the financial shortfall and recovers the funds into the ICPC recovery account for the federal government.

“In situations where certain components are either not done or poorly done and cannot be corrected, we compute the level of underperformance and ensure recovery of the funds.

“Where necessary, prosecution of erring contractors is also considered,” he said.

The ICPC chief urged residents to take ownership of projects sited in their communities and hold their elected representatives accountable.

“These projects belong to the communities. Citizens should ask questions about projects allocated to their areas, especially those that are started but not completed. They should follow up to ensure full delivery,” he said.

Among the projects tracked is the rehabilitation of a block of four classrooms with offices and furnishings at Abubakar Dada Secondary School, Paiko.

Others were the rehabilitation of 1.5 kilometres of Old Market Road, Paiko; the supply of educational materials to UK Bello Memorial Primary School, Paiko; and the provision of solar streetlights in Chanchaga and Paikoro Local Government Areas.

Also, the installation of pipes and fittings for the Paiko water project, facilitated by Senator Sani Musa, representing the Niger East Senatorial District, was tracked.

Similarly, the construction, furnishing, and equipping of a 250-bed general hospital with doctors’ quarters, a solar inverter, and a borehole in Latch Phase 1 by Rep Saidu Abdullahi, a member representing the Bida/Katcha/Gbako Federal Constituency, among others, were inspected.

(NAN)