Isoko Youths Protest Substandard Job, Calls On Anti-graft Bodies To Storm Delta

By Kenneth Orusi, Asaba

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), may have concluded arrangements to take over the lingering cases of the alleged substandard road contract awarded to PORTPLUS limited, a marine service company, at the sum of N736, 404, 555.60.

The contract which was allegedly given as a ‘kola-nut’ by the governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the chairman of PORTPLUS Limited, Mr. Immanuel Omoefe, an indigene of the community is already generating controversy following the alleged substandard work and usage of low quality materials by the contractor, which has resulted into a protest in the community.

It was gathered that a source from the EFCC who does not want his name on print said, “Please don’t quote me, but I can tell you that the commission has been following letters and stories from online media concerning the contract. We saw in the whole contract elements of fraud especially in the area of execution. We are very most interested in the issue”.

According to the EFCC source, “as we talk, we are talking with the lawyers, to the concerned indigenes of the community who petitioned Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the substandard work and he is cooperating with us.

“Our Benin City office in Edo state will soon swing into action and all names that were mentioned especially the contractor would be invited for questioning”, the EFCC source disclosed.
The concerned indigenes of the community through a petition addressed to governor Okowa last week and signed by their counsel, Mr. Chuks. F. Ebu, had raised the alarm of substandard job by the contractor saying that instead of construction of both sides drainages, using rods and other materials specified in the Bill Of Quantity, (BOQ), the contractor went for substandard materials.

The petition which was made available to this medium, copied the Commissioner of Police, state commissioner for works, member representing constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Orezi Esievo, State Director, SSS, Chairman, Isoko South local government area, all branch chairmen of Ikpide-Irri unions, President General, Isoko Development Union, (IDU) and others.

According to the petition with the title Re: Construction Of Ikpide-Irri Township Roads: Protest Against The Substandard Job And Call For Strict Adherence To The Bill Of Quantity: failure by the contractor to adhere strictly to the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation, (BEME), the BOQ and other contract papers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies would be invited into the contract.

“That the curvets should be reconstructed because the coverts construction was not met as rods used was 10mm at interval of 300mm instead of 16mm at interval of 150mm spacing specified in the drawings and the original Bill Of Quantity (BOQ) and concrete mixed was very poor. Also the size specified in the drawings was not professionally followed”.

It would be recalled that in March, 2017, Okowa, had awarded to PORTPLUS Limited, the contract to construct a three kilometers concrete pavement road with both sides’ drainages at Ikpide-Irri, a riverine community, Isoko South local government area of Delta state.

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Kadiri Christopher

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