Nigeria Content Online

The
House of Representatives yesterday named a seven-man team to inquire
into the N257 billion Abuja airport road (renamed Yar’Adua Road)
contract, less than a week after a resolution was reached to
investigate the project.

The lawmakers voted
last Thursday to constitute an arbitrary committee with members drawn
outside the House Committee on Works, to probe the terms and funding of
the project which they argue have contravened its original agreement.

They also said the
construction of the expressways leading to the city airport, recently
named after the late president, was awarded at an exorbitant cost.

House Speaker
Dimeji Bankole named an ad hoc committee for the probe yesterday, to be
headed by Suleiman Kawu, a member of the All Nigeria People’s Party,
from Kano State.

Other members of
the committee include Olaka Nworgu (Rivers), Umaru Kurfi (PDP Katsina),
Jerry Manwe(PDP Taraba), Yusuf Tuga(ANPP, Bauchi), Agboola Ajayi (PDP
Ondo), Onyeama Chukwuma(PDP Anambra state).

The committee will
find out how the former Federal Capital Territory administration under
Adamu Aliero, arrived at the whopping N257 billion for the expansion of
the twin northern outer expressways- a contract awarded to Julius
Berger Plc.

Revaluate the project

Also, they will
determine why the administration discarded earlier agreement that the
project be funded through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the
private sector paying 60 per cent, while the government pays the
remaining.

The inquiry will
also re-evaluate the project, re-measure the road distance, compare
charges for similar construction in other parts of the northern zone,
and recommend prosecution for those found guilty of wrong doing.

No date has been fixed for the submission of the outcome of the investigation.