A road construction project in Nigeria has come under scrutiny due to allegations of fraud, mismanagement, and political involvement. The project, contracted to DC Engineering Ltd, has faced delays and financial disputes, leading to an investigation by an ad hoc committee.
DC Engineering Ltd claims that the Federal Ministry of Works owes them a significant sum of money, amounting to over 20 billion Naira, for work done on the project. The company alleges that the ministry failed to make payments, even after DC Engineering Ltd submitted an advance payment guarantee from its bank.
The situation escalated when it was revealed that the contract was being considered for re-award to another company for a significantly higher sum, 54.3 billion Naira. DC Engineering Ltd’s solicitor accused some individuals within the ministry of attempting to defraud the federal government.
While these allegations were made, questions were raised about the involvement of Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, a member of the House of Representatives, in the contract. The Director of Highways South at the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, denied any deal with Sadipe but admitted sending her a congratulatory message after her election victory.
Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe vehemently denied any relationship with the contractor, AREATECH Construction Ltd, and threatened legal action over the allegations against her.
The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Hon. Kwamot Bitrus Laori, emphasized that the committee’s purpose is not to witch-hunt anyone but to determine the cause of the road project’s failure and plan for its future.
Concerns were also raised about the conflicting information regarding the termination of DC Engineering Ltd’s contract and outstanding payments. While Engr. Adedamola Kuti claimed the contract was terminated in September 2022 and that the company owed the ministry, DC Engineering Ltd’s Executive Director, Engr. Ade Adedeji, stated that the ministry had recently paid them part of the 15 percent mobilization fee.
The host communities of the project reported that they were unaware of any contractor on-site other than DC Engineering Ltd, and that the company had performed only “palliative work.”
The investigation into this road project highlights concerns about corruption, mismanagement, and political influence in Nigerian infrastructure projects. The ad hoc committee has called for relevant documents to be submitted to its secretariat by September 11, 2023, as it continues its inquiry into the matter.
