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Abandoned projects: ICPC returns over 500 contractors to sites
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it has returned over 500 contractors to sites to complete abandoned and shoddily completed projects.
The commission said this was achieved through its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).
Demola Bakare, Spokesperson for ICPC, said this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
He quoted the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, as saying this at a Policy Dialogue on the Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of Constituency Projects in Nigeria.
The dialogue was organised by OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative in Abuja.
The chairman, represented by the Secretary of the Commission, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, said CEPTI had saved the country hundreds of millions of naira in the process.
”CEPTI, through its various phases has tracked over 3,485 projects between 2019 and 2023.
”Some of the uncompleted projects not only deprived Nigerians of basic amenities and infrastructure, but also posed the risk of increased security risks.
”Some of the projects or buildings might be inhabited by unscrupulous members of the community,” he said.
Aliyu underlined the importance of the Private sector in monitoring the implementation of constituency projects in the country.
He said that completed constituency projects were major dividends of democracy, which fostered growth and development at the grassroots.
The ICPC chairman said that lack of accountability in execution of projects was “a red flag of systemic corruption” that short changes the electorate and deprives them of beneficial social systems that should be readily available.
Aliyu further said that the private sector had a major role to play in identifying and preventing corruption in execution of projects and highlighted the successes recorded via the project tracking initiative of the Commission.
He lauded the increased impact of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NGOs and other stakeholders in the private sector.
“Private sector participation in constituency project implementation is integral to the execution of such projects hence it should be accorded the necessary encouragement.
”This is based on the conviction that the process stands to benefit more from value chain in areas like funding and investment” the chairman added.
Aliyu stated that the recent pronouncement of the Supreme Court as regards Local Government autonomy necessitated increased efforts to optimise the resources allocated to the grassroots.
While welcoming participants to the policy dialogue, the Executive Director of Orderpaper, Mr Oke Epia, stated that “Constituency projects are no longer matters under the radar”
He said that they were meant to benefit communities and improve the living standard of the society.
Epia further said that Orderpaper from its inception was in the business of correcting erroneous information and misconceptions about the role of lawmakers in the implementation of constituency projects.
He maintained that corruption and lack of accountability in the execution of such projects should not be apportioned to lawmakers alone, but rather the spotlight should also focus on contractors.
According to Epia, corruption cannot happen without the connivance and collaboration of contractors and the financial system (institutions) too”.
He urged stakeholders to see the dialogue as an opportunity to facilitate robust conversation and focus on how to collaborate with the private sector to deescalate issues hampering transparency and accountability.
Also, the Majority leader of the Senate, Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele, said that the success of the implementation of constituency projects was dependant on the conduct of all key players in the sector.
“No government, no matter how well organised, can guarantee a nation’s rebirth,”Bamidele said.
He called on members of the private sector to dedicate time and resources to the growth and development of their communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, stated that key players of the private sector should work in tandem with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA)
According to him, working with LEA like ICPC and EFCC will help curb the corruption in constituency projects.
Olukoyede, who was represented by Dr Eze Johnson, added that the input of members of the community was equally important in the implementation of projects.
He said they were the end users and their input will automatically reduce waste and prevent corruption.
The EFCC chairman praised the initiative of the policy dialogue, stating that constant discourse creates multiple solutions to prevailing issues in the implementation of constituency projects.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.
