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Rivers Probes N3bn Failed School Contracts …State PDP Expresses Shock
The Rivers State Government has launched an investigation aimed at unraveling the circumstances surrounding the N3billion failed contracts awarded by the previous administration for the renovation of some secondary school buildings across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The contractors for the schools renovation were mobilised by the former Governor and now Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led government in 2015.
Announcing the jump-starting of the probe last Friday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Senior Secondary School Board Committee on the Implementation and Recovery of Looted Funds, listed the contractors, the local governments, communities, schools and the amounts released by the government for the execution of the contracts.
The committee also listed the contractors and the amount collected from government for the renovation of non-existent schools in the state.
It further directed the contractors to appear at the board’s Okija Street, D/Line office in Port Harcourt by 11am from Wednesday, June 29 to Wednesday, July 27, 2016, to explain why they collected the state government’s money without executing the contracts more than one year after.
Specifically, the committee directed Chimeagata & Services, G. Proof Global Nig Ltd, Nwaugah Jaccob Enterprises, Widereu Integrated Services Ltd, and Nyesemi Intergrated Services Ltd, which collectively collected N1,009,824,000.00 for non-existent schools in the state to appear on June 29 to give details of contracts, their status and any other further information the committee may require to justify the payment for the contracts.
The schools board committee also invited Mondo Progetti Ltd, Ella & Eghuan Ventures, D.P.&H Investment Nig Ltd, Piniebi& Imoh Nig Ltd, Zeus Global Interest Ltd, Chiread Ventures Nig, Building Concepts, Dapreach Nig Ltd, Neo-Brutini Ltd, and Brenton Wood &Trinity Ltd, which collected a cumulative sum of N337,000,000.00 for the renovation of Government Secondary School, Abua in Abua/Odual Local Government Area to meet with it on June 30, 2016, to furnish information on their contracts.
Also on June 30, Waby C. Nig Ltd, STE Office System Ltd, Benbross Global Resources, GAM 3G Ltd, Shadico Multi Services Ltd, and Wetland Works Ltd are to answer questions on the total N298million collected for the renovation of WACHS, Ahoada, in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
On the same day, Robel Global Services Ltd, Atisis Integrated Services, Hartward Enterprises Nig Ltd, Intesmag Network Services, Qantum Services Ltd, and Dorisdesmond Nig Ltd, would explain to the committee how a total sum of N118million given them to renovate GCSS, Ataba, in Andoni Local Government Area was expended without any work done on the school.
In the same vein, the committee directed Multisolid Construction Res Ltd, AB-Fabal Services Ltd, HBekel Global Services Ltd, Avomee Global Services Ltd, Mae International, XKlisive Image Line Services, and Goody’s Sunny Global Services to appear July 6 to explain what they did with a N242million collected to renovate GCSS, Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
Similarly, Kursco Nig Ltd, Salamander Investment Ltd, ING International Ltd, Apo-Biz Venture Ltd, Arod Investment Company Ltd, and the Reach Integrated Services are to explain what they did with a totl sum of N98million they collected from government to renovate CSS, Obonoma in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on July 6.
Also on the same day, Intersect system Ltd, Josiah Jacob Nig Ltd, Etelbi Nig Ltd, Nyeseni Integrated Services, Husbani Integrated Services Ltd, and Cosini Nig Ltd are to tell the committee where they spent a total N95million they collected to renovate CSS, Ido in Asari-Toru Local Government Area.
The Tide further learnt that Harial Nig Ltd, Valine Nig Ltd, Fredat Investment Ltd, Omab Tech Services Ltd, Harold & Julius Investment Ltd and Bams Nig Ltd are to appear before the committee on July 7 to give details of how they expended a total N234million they collected to renovate CSS, Abalamabie in Bonny Local Government Are.
On the same day, Dear Maijaja & Co Ltd, Frimabo Nig Ltd, Sakim Nig Ltd, First Didi & Sons and BMS Nig Ltd will guests of the committee to explain how they spent N163million on GTC, Tombia in Degema Local Government Area that has not been renovated.
For GSS, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area, Alspace Contrat & Logistics Ltd, Movicks Services Ltd, Abhili Nig Ltd, Nyimejire Enterprises Nig Ltd, Bedomon Resources Nig Ltd, and Nemax Services Ltd are to explain on July 7, where N105.3million they collected to renovate the school went.
The Tide investigations revealed that 10 companies are to explain on July 13, where a total sum of N229million the collected to renovate GGS Umuola in Etche Local Government Area disappeared to.
Also six companies are to appear on July 13 to account for N189million they collected from government to renovate CHS, Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area while eight other companies, will on the same day, give account of N245million they collected to renovate CSS, Kpor in Gokana Local Government Area.
In Ikwerre Local Government Area, six companies are to account for N225million they took to renovate GSS, Omerelu on July 14 while nine others are to explain how they spent N253million given to them to renovate BMGS, Bori in Khana Local Government Area.
Five companies are to account for N80.1million given them to renovate CSS, Rumuokurushi in Obio/Akpor while another five firms will explain what they did with N81million they took to renovate GCSS, Opobo, CHS, Nkoro and CSS, Opobo in Opobo/Nkoro.
Also, five firms apiece are to account for N72million and N67million they were given to renovate GSS, Ogu and NSS, Okrika in Ogu/Bolo and Okrika LGA, respectively.
Furthermore, Six firms that took N141million for CSS, Amaji in Omuma LGA, and Seven others that took N224million to renovate GGSS, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA are to account for same on July 21.
For GSS, Oyibo, LGA, six firms are to account for N243million while in 12 others are to explain what happened to N495.5million they took to renovate EHS, Borikiri and GGSS, Oromenike in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
Nine companies are to explain how they expended N225million the collected to renovate GSS, Kpite in Tai LGA on July 27, 2016.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described as shocking and wicked the many cases of uncovered diversion of funds meant for the rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools in the state under the administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Chairman of the state PDP, Bro Felix Obuah, made this observation while reacting to the published list of persons invited by the state Senior Secondary Schools Board for explanations over monies received from the immediate past administration but not used for the projects so awarded and some, collected without project sites.
The state PDP chairman explained that it was more worried that a government that made so much noise about giving the best education the Rivers children could condone such recklessness, and allowed monies earmarked to renovate the schools and provide the right atmosphere for studying frittered away with careless abandon.
While enjoining the state government not to limit its searchlight on the mess in the education sector, Obuah said this is the kind of fraud the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should be going after with a view to recovering the loots and bringing to book the culprits.
The state PDP chairman, however, regretted that rather than spread its dragnet for such fraudsters to sanitize the society, the anti-graft agency was busy haunting opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), innocent citizens, most of whom have spent the better part of their lives in service to the country.
Notwithstanding the collaboration between those responsible for the parlous state of public schools and the general looting of Rivers State treasury and the anti-corruption agents, the Rivers State Government should not leave any stone unturned in exposing illegalities discovered anywhere in the state under the administration of Amaechi and those behind them no matter the social status of their perpetrators, Obuah urged.
He, therefore, urged all those implicated in the ghost contracts and looting in Rivers State to do the needful, by being ready and willing to refund the stolen funds and save the state further waste of scarce resources on litigations.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.
According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.
APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.
The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.
Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.
Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.
Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.
The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.
Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.
National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.
John Bibor & King Onunwor
The National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) says that Nigeria is accountable for 70 per cent of 11 million illegal arms and light weapons in West Africa,
Mr Alex Ebimiebo, the South South Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, made the remark at the Naval Warfare Course 9 Inter-Agency seminar, organised by the Naval War College in Calabar on Thursday.
Ebimiebo presented a paper themed, “Strengthening Security Agencies Collaboration to Counter Illicit Arms Proliferation for Enhanced National Security in Nigeria.”
He said that the illegal arms dealings were largely responsible for Nigeria’s 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 26,000 refugees in neighboring countries.
Ebimiebo further said that arms proliferation had led to economic distortions, an increase in violence, crime, and impediment to peace building.
He, however, called for concerted effort from all Nigerians to tackle the menace, saying that NCCSALW would take the fight to the society since security is the responsibility of everyone.
“So, as a result, everybody is a stakeholder, so as such, we need to involve the whole society in this fight and the center has a lot of programmes for collaboration with our sister agencies.
”We also have advocacy and sensitisation programmes that we take to members of the general public from time to time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Akinola Oludude, Commandant, Naval War College, expressed concern on the influx of illicit arms into Nigeria since 2020.
He attributed this to the extensive borderline of about 4,470 kilometers between Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
He also noted that the nation’s maritime domain that extended over 853 kilometers of coastline and of the Gulf of Guinea had also not helped.
The commandant said that the 2021 survey by the NCCSALW revealed that over six million illegal weapons were in circulation in the country.
Oludude said that out of the figure, about 70 per cent were in the hands of non-states actors.
”The impact of this illicit arms proliferation is profound and multifaceted.
”These weapons bred various forms of insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and armed robbery.
“Inter-agency collaboration is needed to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons,” he said.
Oludude said that no single agency, no matter how well-resourced, no matter how well-dedicated, could effectively tackle the complex challenge alone.
He stated that the nature of the recent arms proliferation demanded a joint and multi-agency approach.
“Therefore, this seminar provides a vital platform for us to collectively examine the complexities of this complex challenge,” he said.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Kennedy Ezete, urged the participants to translate the discussions and recommendations of the seminar into concrete actions.
He advised the participants to take the knowledge and insights gained to their respective agencies and organisations and implement them
According to him, “we must ensure that the suggestions and way forward developed here are implemented effectively and that the partnerships forged are sustained.
”This requires a commitment from all stakeholders, including the leadership of our security agencies and the wider community.
”Share your experiences, implement the strategies that have been suggested, and continue to work collaboratively to counter illicit arms proliferation.
“We must also continue to invest in training, technology, and intelligence gathering to enhance our capabilities.”
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