Re: PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE REPORT ON ABUJA AIRPORT RUNWAY

Dear Editor,

Re: PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE REPORT ON ABUJA AIRPORT RUNWAY

It was gladdening to read in the national dailies Monday 25/5/10 that the Presidential Review Committee led by Ibrahim Bunu has saved N13billion for the nation on the Abuja airport runway project being handled by Julius Berger. 

The President should also look into the issue raised by the National Assembly on the ongoing N247billion Airport Road by Julius Berger. Other issues but not limited to, is the peddled revelation by a south-south state governor that his administration has spent whopping N81billion on federal roads (most by Julius Berger) in that state. According to the governor, the federal authority has refunded only N2billion; reason why he has initiated lobbying the National Assembly members for the balance N79billion. If there was properly approved project analysis for those road projects, then the federal government delaying release of the fund is wrong.

There are allegations of profligacy among some State governors; therefore, it is necessary that the federal government puts a Check and Balance Committee in place. This is necessary because if you take for instance, the controversial N33billion Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre which the Akwa Ibom governor confirmed (see The Nation 18/5/08) releasing N11billion upfront; before proper project analysis was conducted? 

Julius Berger has remained controversially, a recurring decimal in Nigeria yet the federal and state governments have continued to heavily patronize it: The construction giant reportedly on account of East West Road project collected N6billion from the federal government and for years kept it interest-free while abandoning site on flimsy excuse. It was also accused by the National Assembly, of illegally exporting our mineral resources and so also has been taken to court by federal government on another account of importing contrabands into the country. It was involved in knocking down a magnificent Akwa Ibom Governor’s lodge and in the process determinately earned N6.5billion to reconstruct a ‘befitting’ one. If we have a responsive federal government, these cases and more must not be swept under the carpet.    

Dr (Engr.) Taribo Opuaya, 388 Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.