PDP Demands Review of N2:12bn Per Kilometer On Abuja-Kano Road

BY EVELYN DADU, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said that with the approval of N797 billion for a 375 kilometer Abuja-Kano road, the Buhari Presidency is claiming to be reconstructing a kilometer of road with an outrageous and inexcusable N2.12 billion.

The PDP said such an approval is a huge slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians, adding that following the unearthing of alleged padding in the N797.23 billion contract recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), there is the immediate need for a review of the 375 kilometer Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road reconstruction contract.

The Party also demanded for an open probe into what it described as the “criminal padding” of the contract from the original N155 billion to an outrageous and indefensible N797 billion, with a whooping N642 billion apparently earmarked to be shared among corrupt officials.

The PDP said that while it supports the reconstruction of the important road, it however insisted that it will be against the interest of the nation to allow criminal elements in the Buhari administration to hide under the project to steal a staggering N642 billion which ought to be channeled to other projects that would benefit the people.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan noted that the nation was jolted at the level of corruption in the Buhari presidency wherein the President could approve a fraudulent contract padding to the tune of N642 billion at the time the nation is battling with serious economic challenges and infrastructural stagnation.

The PDP therefore charged Buhari to heed to the demands by Nigeria and immediately effect the review in the interest of the nation, before any releases are made, adding that the review by the President would douse tension already generated by the revelations of the attempt by fraudulent officials to swindle the nation as well as restore the confidence of the people in our system.

The PDP further said; “Our party holds that the N642 billion which would be recovered through the review should be channeled to fix other important roads in the region as well as other parts of our country, which have become death traps following a distressing neglect by the Buhari administration”.

The PDP tasked the Buhari Presidency, to come clean on the blasphemous attempt to swindle the nation, by instituting and allowing an open investigation on the criminal act by relevant statutory bodies including the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It also demanded that the investigation should cover the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing the Office of The Accountant General of the Federation, the Budget Office as well as other officials of the Buhari administration connected with the criminal contract inflation.

According to the PDP; “What Nigerians expect now is for Mr. President to show that he has not been overwhelmed by the corruption in his Presidency by taking decisive steps to investigate the matter and ensure the prosecution of all those involved, no matter how close they are to him”.