The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced tracking phase 7 of the Constituency and Executive Projects across Niger State.
A tracker from ICPC, Malam Sai’du Yahaya, disclosed this during the tracking exercise on Thursday in Minna, the state capital.
He said about 80 projects would be tracked across various sectors, including education, health, water resources, power, empowerment, and agriculture amongst others.
Yahaya further disclosed that the projects, valued at N13.9 billion, commenced in 2022 and 2023 across various sectors.
“The objective of the tracking exercise is to ensure that federal government projects are executed according to specifications and contract agreements.
“This is to detect potential fraud and identify instances of contractors or supervisors conspiring to defraud the federal government.
“The exercise is to also ensure quality execution of projects, that is, to verify if projects meet contract specifications,” he said.
He stated further that the commission is collaborating with stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Institute of Quality Surveyors, to assess the projects to enable it to recover any losses from contractors from projects found to be substandard.
He said the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors is to provide expert valuation and assessment services to ensure that project specifications are met and that contractors deliver quality work.
Yahaya disclosed that the exercise would be carried across the three senatorial zones in Niger State.
The 7th phase, involving 1,500 projects with a total project value of N610 billion, kicks off on Nov. 18 in 22 states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The states are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia, and Enugu States.
The phase 7 tracking exercise will cut across government intervention in Rural Electrification Agency (REA), National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), and Ecological Funds.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then