Shocker As Minister Admits That Abuja Airport/Kubwa Roads Contracts Were Inflated By N38B

BALA MOHAMMED, FCT MINISTER

ABUJA, February 01, (THEWILL) - The Federal Government on Wednesday confessed that the contract costs for two major highways in Abuja; Kubwa and Airport roads, were inflated to the tune of N38 billion.

This was disclosed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on the FCT.

Senator Bala said that President Goodluck Jonathan had as a result of the scam constituted a committee to immediately review the contract.

According to the minister, the committee of experts while reviewing the projects scrutinized the projects’ design and measurement and concluded that the projects have been inflated by over N38 billion.
 
He added that despite the fact that the experts are still working, the Federal Government would soon release a white paper on the final outcome.

“We want to show that we are ready to partner with the National Assembly. Mr. President has been talking about the cost of projects and immediately he read about the Senate Committee’s oversight tour of the some project sights, he ordered a probe into the projects. Right now the committee has saved the government of N38 billion,” Senator Mohammed said.

On his part, Chairman of Senate Committee on FCT Senator Smart Adeyemi commended the executive for acting fast on the discovery of the Committee.

He also said the Committee would summon all major contractors in the FCT over the usage of onsite materials including granites and laterites.

“We want you to partner with us because we are being cheated as a nation in the deployment of our natural resources. We will soon summon all contractors in Abuja to show receipts of payments for laterites and gravels which they take on site, because already they have included these things in the Bill of Quantity,” he said.