Lawani Street Road Project: Agric Ministry absolves Akpatason Of Complicity

By DADA AYOKHAI
More facts have emerged concerning the controversy surrounding the 300 km Lawani Street, Igarra, Akoko Edo road project, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture claiming full responsibility for its award and construction.

 The ministry's response is coming at a time the said road project had provoked a row between the state government and Hon Peter Akpatason, who represents Akoko Edo constituency in the green chamber

The ministry's disclosure was made public in an advert in a national daily. 
It was signed by the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Theodore Ogazichi. 

"The Ministry wishes to put the records straight, and as such, states that the said road construction is not a 200m but a 300m Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) approved in the 2020 Appropriation Act and domiciled under supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” the statement read.


The claimed of shoddy and poor quality of work done by the contractor who handled the road project drew the ire of the public. 

A constituent member took it upon himself to produce a video on  the said road project. 

The post later went viral and sparked a big row between the state government and Hon Akpatason, prompting the deputy governor of Edo State to pay an unscheduled visit to the site for a quick inspection of the state of the road. 


Based on what he saw during the inspection, the state deputy governor, Hon Philip Shuaibu pronounced an immediate take over of the road project.

In its defence, the ministry accepted full responsibility for the road contract award, insisting, however, that the 200 km road, instead of the 300 km as erroneously claimed, is a zonal intervention project as duly approved in the 2020 Appropriation Act.

"The contract was awarded to Messrs. Royal Jeff Nigeria Limited in separate contract award letters based on quarterly releases in the sum of N45, 337,500.48 (Forty five million, three hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred Naira, forty eight Kobo) between November, 2020 and March, 2021 with specified Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) commonly called Bill of Quantities (BOQ) through comprehensive procurement processes and not Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N360,000,000) as being speculated in the social media"
 In addition, the ministry further revealed that the road contract was awarded to Messrs Royal Jeff Nigeria Limited for the sum of N45m on a quarterly release and not N360m as stated on the social media post. "


It added the Lawani road project was still an ongoing concern for which the value of the work done is yet to be evaluated, verified and certified for payment formalities. 


The ministry further clarified stating that payments are only made upon completion with proper certifications.

"The Government and good people of Edo State should be rest assured that this development is being closely monitored to ensure that the contractor complies with the BOQ standard and where found unsatisfactory, payment will not be processed.”

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