ICPC Tracks N16bn Constituency Projects In Zamfara, Kogi

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) says it has tracked 35 federal government projects worth N4.61 billion in Zamfara State, and has begun tracking 72 projects worth N16.3 billion across Kogi’s three senatorial districts.

The team leader of the tracking exercise, Dr Murtala Bankano, said in a news briefing in Gusau yesterday that the aim was to ensure value for money.

Bankano said the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) was designed by the commission in collaboration with the Budget Office.

Other collaborators, he said, are the National Institute for Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), the Media and other stakeholders, for the effective implementation of FG projects across the country.

He said the Zamfara projects in the phase eight tracking exercise covered six sectors, including education, health, water resources, power, empowerment and agriculture.

He said some of the projects were at various degrees of completion, and therefore urged the contractors to go back and do the needful for the projects they are handling.

“Although the exercise is waiting for the NIQS report to determine the specific gauge of those projects in question, we are directing all contractors with any issue to return to sight immediately,” he said.

Bankano said the target of ICPC under this Initiative was to ensure effective implementation of Constituency and Executive Projects in accordance with the standard.

Elsewhere in Kogi, ICPC’s assistant commissioner, Mr Wale David, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lokoja that the team aimed to ensure that projects meet specifications and deliver value to communities.

“The ICPC will recover funds for uncompleted projects and investigate cases of sub-standard work. Contractors will be required to upgrade projects that don’t meet standards,” he said.

He said the exercise would cover power, water, road, housing, and empowerment programs, with the team verifying beneficiaries and project quality.

He noted that though the team might face challenges tracking empowerment programmes, but the commission would work diligently to verify beneficiaries.

“The exercise started in Lokoja with the N6.2 billion Federal Secretariat Complex and N6.4 billion Inland River Port projects.

“The goal is to ensure communities benefit from projects and contractors deliver quality work, or face repercussions for sub-standard jobs,” he said.

He urged community members to claim ownership of the projects, recognising them as their own.

He noted that a Quantity Surveyor, Mr Ogunseemi Bayo, is assisting the team in assessing project costs and quality.

He emphasised that the tracking exercise will cover all 21 local government areas in the state.

The commission stressed the initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability in government contracting, ensuring Kogi communities receive the benefits of federal projects.