PDP alleged padding of Abuja-Kano road project cost
Tunde Opalana, Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm over alleged manifest padding of the cost for the reconstruction of the Abuja -Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road at an outrageous N797.23 billion.
The party said this project racket has again exposed the multifaceted corruption in the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
The party asserted that the approval of “a scandalous N797.23 billion ($2.09bn) by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the 375-kilometer road, speaks volumes of the level of profligacy and corruption inherent in the administration”.
Saying that it has nothing against any genuine effort towards infrastructural development in the country and particularly the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, the party said “all well-meaning Nigerians, reject this clear attempt by the APC administration to hide under this desirable project to fleece our nation”.
The PDP urged all Nigerians to note that “by awarding the reconstruction of the 375-kilometer road for N797 billion, the APC Federal Government wants the nation to believe that it is spending N12.12 billion ($5.58 million) per kilometer of the road”.
The party said this is the height of corruption, recklessness, and insult on the sensibilities of Nigerians.
“Nigerians can now see how the APC-led administration has been awarding projects at over-bloated costs, the bulk of which are diverted to private purses of APC leaders and the cabal, making our roads the most expensive in Africa.
“Similar roads with the same length in kilometers and road architecture are being constructed at far cheaper costs in other countries across Africa.
“The PDP holds that awarding our roads at indefensible costs just to enrich APC leaders at the detriment of millions of other Nigerians is completely unacceptable.
“It is common knowledge that there are internationally recognized cost per kilometer recommended by many international organizations to which Nigeria belongs, but the APC administration had failed to subscribe to such template because of its proclivity for corruption.
“Furthermore, there are reports that under the APC, roads are being awarded to contractors before the structural designs are ready.
“Moreover, the concept of competitive bidding for contracts is being relegated thereby shutting out genuine contractors who could have delivered more qualitative jobs at realistic costs”, the party said.
The PDP cautioned the Buhari administration to desist from awarding contracts for projects at unrealistic and profligate costs, a situation that has created a conduit pipe to corrupt APC leaders to siphon our common patrimony and subject Nigerians to excruciating hardship
