Multi-Billion Naira Bida-Minna Road Project: Civil Society Groups Call For Probe Over Abandonment By Contractors

Some civil society groups have called for the probe of the contract for the construction of Bida-Minna Road, which sum was given as N24, 339,917, 789.85 (N24.3 billion)

The contract, which was signed on 13th February, 2020 was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company.

We were reliably informed that the duration of the contract is 18 Months beginning from February 2020, but that the contractor was yet to commence work as at the time of this report.

The ground breaking of the project was reportedly done on the 21st of February, 2020.

Sources revealed that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State was a Director with Dantata and Sawoe, while his works Commissioner, Hon. Panti was a staff of Dantata and Sawoe.

It was added that Col. Sani Bello, Governor Bello’s father is still the Chairman of Dantata.

According to the civil society groups, this is one of the ways some contractors have been jeopardising the future of the country as they abandon projects after they must have been mobilised for the job.

The groups said in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Malam Nasir Ibrahim that a petition would soon be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the project, which he said would take it up from there.

Ibrahim stated that “such a laudable project ought to have been given the urgency it deserves.”

The groups emphasised that time had come for the government to take action and ensure that such contractors were brought to book.

They stated that a project such as Bida-Minna Road ought not to have been abandoned if emphasis was placed on its importance.

The groups then called for a probe of the project, adding that the contract should be taken from the construction company and re-awarded “to those who are ready to do the job and deliver as at when due.”