A consortium of Delta State contractors has raised concerns about the Delta state government handling of a purported N78 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged irregularities.
In a statement led by Solomon Ejiroghene, the contractors accused the Delta state government of sidelining local contractors in favor of a foreign entity for the expansion of the DSC/NPA Expressway.
The project includes a cloverleaf interchange at the Effurun flyover and various other infrastructural developments.
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The forum claimed that the foreign contractor had already returned a kickback of approximately N50 billion from the total N78 billion payment, suspecting these funds were intended for undisclosed purposes.
Ejiroghene questioned the motives behind mopping up such funds, asking, “Are they mopping up these funds for unforeseen circumstances?”
Furthermore, the contractors alleged that the Delta government planned to vary the project to recoup the N50 billion kickback. They criticized the decision to pay the full contract sum instead of the initial 15 percent or 25 percent, expressing concerns about a potential increase in the contract to N125 billion after variation.
In response, Sir Festus Ahon, Chief Press Secretary to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, redirected inquiries to Comrade Reuben Izeze, the commissioner for works overseeing urban and highway roads.
Izeze dismissed the allegations as baseless, attributing them to contractors who had performed poorly and were disgruntled over the engagement of Julius Berger.
Izeze clarified that a significant portion of the contract involved the relocation of the 330 KVA transmission lines, costing around N1.7 billion.
He explained the complexities of the project components, emphasizing the time required for fabrication, testing, and shipping from the manufacturing company in Holland.
As the controversy unfolds, the call for an EFCC investigation adds a layer of scrutiny to the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the N78 billion contract in Delta State.
