ICPC Tracks 124 Executive, Constituency Projects In Yobe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has begun tracking 124 zonal constituency and executive projects worth N37billion in Yobe State.

ICPC Lead of Yobe Tracking Team, Yilzem Hyacienth, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Gashua, headquarters of Bade local government area of the State.

He said the exercise, which began on Monday, would focus on projects across different sectors including education, youths and sports, road constructions and water resources.

He said the team would also track projects executed and handled by the Tertiary Education Fund (TETfund), National Health Insurance Authority, (NHIA), and North-East Development Commission (NEDC), among others.

He also mentioned that 124 projects were scattered across the three senatorial districts of Yobe North, Yobe South and Yobe East, otherwise known as Zones A, B and C of the State.

“Like the name, Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative, projects sponsored by members of the National Assembly as well as projects executed by the Executive arm of Government will be covered by this tracking exercise.

“Communities are encouraged to take ownership of all projects executed by ensuring that the government gets value for money, and where projects are not properly executed, bring such to the attention of the ICPC,” he advised.

The Team commenced the exercise in Gashua, Yobe North, with phase 1 of the 30-km Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road section (Nguru-Gashua) awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works to Messrs Mothercat Limited.

Our correspondent covering the team observed that the phase 1 of the project had been completed and put to use.

While commenting on the road project, the Bade local government chairman, Ibrahim Babagana, commended the Federal Government for constructing the road, which, he said, had enhanced economic activities in the area.

“This road is important to us as it connects Gashua with Kano and even the Niger Republic. As a result, farm produce can easily be moved to many parts of the country and beyond.

“I must tell you that this road is helping us a lot, and the entire people of Bade are expressing their appreciation to the Federal Government,” the local government chairman said.

Babagana, however, appealed to the Federal Government to complete the phase 2 of the project from Gashua to Bayamari.

“Gashua to Bayamari is in a terrible condition and it is almost impossible to ply.

“I am appealing to the Federal Government to hasten the completion of that phase to address the sufferings of the communities along the road,” the Bade LG chairman pleaded.