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The vice president,
Namadi Sambo, yesterday directed that all government contracts must
adhere to due process, including the Niger Delta Coastal Road project.

He gave this
directive during the Federal Executive Council Committee meeting to
fast track the conclusion of all necessary processes for the
commencement of work on the Niger Delta Coastal Road.

Mr. Sambo decried the situation where government agencies flout established procedure in the award of contracts.

He expressed
confidence with the consulting firm handling the project, noting that
as an indigenous company, it falls under the criteria that appeals to
the government to promote local companies, but that it was necessary to
follow the rule of law in the engagement of contactors handling all
government projects.

The VP said “Etheh
Aro is a competent firm and I am confident that it can handle any
service. I am one of the promoters of local engineering and
architectural services firms, even in the construction sector.

“It is a thing of
pride to have Nigerians involved in this important national project,
but that must be done within the rule of law,” Mr. Sambo said.

He further stated
that government was anxious to commence work on the coastal road, and
expressed delight that government can go for tenders by January next
year.

As a means of
tidying up all the loose ends, a technical committee to review the
submission of the consultant on the progress of work done on the
project, was set up.

The committee is to
be chaired by the director general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP),
Emeka Ezeh, and has its membership drawn from the Ministries of Niger
Delta Affairs, Finance and Works, Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Solicitor General of the Federation, and
that of the Vice President.

The committee,
which has 2 weeks to submit its report, is to review all outstanding
jobs currently under execution; review all the commitments by the NDDC
on this project; and also come up with a far reaching recommendation
that will ensure quick dispensation of all outstanding issues.

Speaking, the
director general of the BPP, Mr. Ezeh, lamented infractions by
government agencies in the award of contracts, explaining that the due
process office had existed under the name of the Budget Monitoring and
Price Intelligence Unit (BMPU), before it was transformed into the BPP,
further disclosing that the Public Procurement Act was signed in 2007.

Earlier, the
consultants on the project, Pearl Consultant and Etheh Aro and
Partners, disclosed that they have concluded all the necessary survey
works on the project, including its Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment.

They also disclosed
that a draft tenders document is ready, so that by January, 2011,
government can go for tenders on the road project.

Also present at the occasion were the Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Works, Mohammed Sanusi Daggas;
the Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs, Samuel Ode; managing
director of NDDC, Chibuzor Ugwoha; and other government functionaries.