Abuja-Kano Road Contract Over Priced At N155 Billion- Reps Committee Alleges
The House of Representatives has disclosed that the contract for the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is overpriced at the cost of N155 billion with a completion period of 36 weeks.
The House Committee on Works, headed by Rep. Kabir Abubakar (APC-Kano), made the revelation.
The Committee said, “at the time the contract was awarded to Julius Berger, there were other companies that quoted about N90 billion for the 375-kilometre road, insisting, however, that even though there is no commensurate work done in comparison to the money paid so far, it must be delivered on schedule”.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, however, disagreed with the members, over the unit cost of constructing the road.
The Chairman of the Committee on Works, currently on oversight, Rep. Abubakar Kabir, told newsmen that” while Julius Berger collected about N70 billion from the Federal government, an assessment of the work done so far, revealed that the contractor was yet to accomplish more than 20 per cent of the total work”.
He said “the unit cost of the project per kilometre stands at about N450 million, the Zonal Director of Works for North West, Engr. Esan Folurunsho and the Engineer Representatives supervising the project, Engr. James Zira said the materials being used for the Kaduna to Zaria section of the road was cheaper for Nigeria”.
The lawmakers had asked the Ministry officials the unit cost per Kilometer when Engr. Zira told them that the contractor was removing the old asphalt and reusing them as a base overlay for the road, adding that it was cheaper for the country.
He had told them that “we are removing and reusing the asphalt on the road. It is a different method and cheaper concept. If we throw the asphalt away, it will have a negative impact on the environment.
But Zira and his director could not provide the answer to questions of cost per unit for the Job, insisting that they must be allowed to return to the office to do a calculation of the unit cost, an answer which angered members of the Committee.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Rep Edu fired back, “But you knew we were coming for this oversight. You should have prepared all these answers for us. This is unacceptable. You are telling us that what is being done here is cheaper for Nigeria and yet, you cannot tell us the unit cost.
“You knew we were coming here. The Chairman asked you a vital question which must be answered because the question is vital to Nigerians. If this is cheaper for Nigerians, then at what cost” Some angry members could be heard saying
‘If you cannot provide us with the answers we need, then you are not fit for this job. We will recommend your removal. The contractors are giving them bills and they are paying”.
