626 ghost contractors disappeared with NDDC N100bn after mobilisation fees

Senate has invited management of the Niger Delta Development Commission to explain the where about of N100 billion Nigeria paid to 626 contractors for mobilisation for which no work was done. Senator Matthew Urhoghide, led Senate Committee on Public Accounts that is probing the NDDC, said that it will personalise any refund that would be traceable to an individual during the Investigative hearing. Speaking on the development, Senator Urhoghide said that it is painful that over N100 billion was spent on contracts by the NDDC without justification for the spending. The Senate Committee is relying on special periodic checks on the activities and programmed of Niger Delta Development Commission for period 1st January 2013- 30th June , 2018.

Speaking during a meeting of Committee, Senator Urhoghide who disclosed that the Committee has invited the NDDC to come and appear before it on Wednesday, said, ” We have invited NDDC to come , they don’t have records of financial transaction. They will appear before us on Wednesday. “They have 47 queries and we are going at it the issue from 1 to 47 and we are going to personalised any refund. It is painful that N100 billion were spent without justification for it . We equally invite them for status enquiry on all revenue into their accounts.We are waiting for the NDDC, if they don’t come, we will take necessary action against them.” Some of the queries read, ” it was observed that so many contractors were paid mobilisation fee to enable them to commence the execution of the projects awarded to them.

“Contrary to the terms and agreement some of the contractors bolter away after collection of the mobilisation fees. The surprising aspect of it was that this practice involved 626 contractors in which the sum of N61.4 billion was lost to fraudulent practices. Irregularities in the execution of contract awarded to SETRACO Nigeria Ltd. for the construction of Gbaregolor- Gbekbot -Ogulagha road phase worth N16.1 billion.”