A non-governmental organisation, Ibadan Ko ‘Ya Anti Corruption Coalition has expressed fear over the delay by the government in approving and releasing names of contractors to handle some World Bank drainage projects in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The fear came as the State government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde, is lobbying the World Bank to undermine the procurement strategy and award the contracts to companies linked to the Governor and his cronies in excess of N7 billion above the substantially responsive lowest bidders in the four lots.
The group in a statement made available to worldtopnewsng.com by it’s coordinator and secretary, Messrs Oladele Morufu and Joel Adeoye respectively are calling on well-meaning Nigerians, especially the people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general to prevail on the Makinde from further delaying the announcement and submission of names of qualified contractors to the World Bank, sponsoring the projects before it is too late.
READ ALSO: Arthritis Drug Tocilizumab Turns ‘Miracle Med’, Cuts Death Rates From COVID-19 Patients
The NGO in the statement said “the government has refused to name the qualified contractors who participated in the bid advertised on August 6, 2020, and opened publicly on Friday, October 2, 2020, to handle the project tagged, “Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project”.
The statement read further that the contractors who participated in the bid were more than 28 and from their quotations and bid prices alongside their bid security amount, it is clear and without ambiguity the companies who should be awarded the contracts.”
“As stakeholders in Oyo State project and among those who are interested in the development of the state, we are so concerned about the government of Engr. Seyi Makinde insisted on forcing his chosen contractors on the World Bank.
“We gathered however that the delay from the government was not unconnected to greediness and the fact that the government is out to manipulate the outcome of the bid and the contract process while imposing their own chosen contractors which is contrary to World Bank procedures and standard.”
“Our fear is that there are already several petitions written to the World Bank with respect to the manipulation of the process by the state government. This we can assure Nigerians may lead to the cancellation of the loan facility and make Oyo State and the communities to benefit from the flood management project the losers.”
READ ALSO: Frozen Animal Products Likely Cause Of COVID-19, WHO Expert Says After Visit To Wuhan
Worldtopnewsng.com gathered that World Bank had queried the Oyo State Government represented by Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) on the proposed award of contracts for the Construction of 2nd Pool of Long Term Investments for Flood Control in Ibadan City of Oyo State Lot 1- 4 to unqualified contractors companies linked to the state government.
It query read: “The government’s role in the “corrupt contract award” poses significant hidden risks for the release of $200 million financing agreement.”
The State government and the World Bank are at loggerheads over the award and this could potentially lead to the bank cancelling the $200 million development fund granted to Oyo state if the state government does not comply with the World Bank procurement strategies.
The cancellation could ultimately have a negative impact on the lives of the Oyo indigenes.
READ ALSO: Asthma Drug Reduces Hospitalization For COVID-19 By 90%, Research Shows
In what seemed to be true, when contacted by worldtopnewsng.com, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant on Media, Taiwo Adisa and Jide Ajani respectively, read the messages sent to their WhatsApp but refused to respond to the shameful allegations.
