Respected Itsekiri Socio-Cultural Group, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILOT has exposed what can be described as massive fraud in the execution of projects by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC in Itsekiri communities spread across Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas.
In a press statement made available to newsmen today in Warri titled “DESOPADEC AND ITS CAN OF WORMS”, the renowned Itsekiri body expressed concern about what it described as “the unbridled and unprecedented stealing of the resources of what was supposed to be the Delta State’s intervention agency for oil producing communities of the State”.
According to the statement, a body commissioned by ILOT to verify claims of more than 60 out of the over 400 projects purportedly executed by DESOPADEC in Itsekiri communities since its inception, revealed that the commission “has been a cesspool of fraud, corruption, maladministration and favour dishing government agency”.
The statement which was signed by ILOT Secretary, Edward Ekpoko Esq., revealed that despite one billion naira (N1, 000,000,000.00) purportedly paid by DESOPADEC for the development of Ugborodo New Town in Warri South-West Local Government Area, the ILOT team on assessment “found that the site has only very weak foundation for about 15 units of bungalow, which is less than 10% completion”.
The team also discovered that despite the payment of N237, 389, 451.32kobo to a certain Trisac Nigeria Limited as 19.78% completion of the one billion, two hundred million, one hundred and seven thousand, fifty four naira earmarked for the construction/establishment of recreation beach at Koko in Warri North Local Government Area, the project location was “not even accessible by road and location is not suitable for recreation beach”.
The drainage, sand-filling and landscaping at Ogidigben Grammar School Hostel & Dining Hall in Warri South-West Local Government Area awarded to A&J Construction Company Limited at the cost of one hundred and fifty million naira and (N128, 108, 153.15 purportedly paid “at 85.41%) with no job done is among projects that have drawn the Ire of ILOT”.
Projects uncovered to have been awarded by DESOPADEC with massive sums paid with little or no jobs executed include 2 Hostel blocks and Dining Hall at Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area, construction of recreation beach road, Koko, Construction of Ultra Modern Library at Koko, acquisition/construction of Model Secondary Schools, Koko, supply and installation of 250 KVA Generator at Koko General Hospital, furnishing and equipping of Koko General Hospital as well as the sand-filling of Koko General Hospital, all in Warri North Local Government Area in Delta State.
While describing the revelation as “just a tip of the iceberg”, adding that “more damning revelation will be made subsequently as our Assessment Team turn in its report”, ILOT averred “we have to shout out now as we are aware that there are strong pressures on both the Governor and the new Board of DESOPADEC by contractors for release of the outstanding payments for all these phony projects”.
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