News

Abandoned projects: ICPC returns over 500 contractors to sites

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2024

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it has returned over 500 contractors to sites to complete abandoned and shoddily completed projects.

The commission said this was achieved through its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).

Demola Bakare, Spokesperson for ICPC, said this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

He quoted the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, as saying this at a Policy Dialogue on the Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of Constituency Projects in Nigeria.

The dialogue was organised by OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative in Abuja.

The chairman, represented by the Secretary of the Commission, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, said CEPTI had saved the country hundreds of millions of naira in the process.

”CEPTI, through its various phases has tracked over 3,485 projects between 2019 and 2023.

”Some of the uncompleted projects not only deprived Nigerians of basic amenities and infrastructure, but also posed the risk of increased security risks.

”Some of the projects or buildings might be inhabited by unscrupulous members of the community,” he said.

Aliyu underlined the importance of the Private sector in monitoring the implementation of constituency projects in the country.

He said that completed constituency projects were major dividends of democracy, which fostered growth and development at the grassroots.

The ICPC chairman said that lack of accountability in execution of projects was “a red flag of systemic corruption” that short changes the electorate and deprives them of beneficial social systems that should be readily available.

Aliyu further said that the private sector had a major role to play in identifying and preventing corruption in execution of projects and highlighted the successes recorded via the project tracking initiative of the Commission.

He lauded the increased impact of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NGOs and other stakeholders in the private sector.

“Private sector participation in constituency project implementation is integral to the execution of such projects hence it should be accorded the necessary encouragement.

”This is based on the conviction that the process stands to benefit more from value chain in areas like funding and investment” the chairman added.

Aliyu stated that the recent pronouncement of the Supreme Court as regards Local Government autonomy necessitated increased efforts to optimise the resources allocated to the grassroots.

While welcoming participants to the policy dialogue, the Executive Director of Orderpaper, Mr Oke Epia, stated that “Constituency projects are no longer matters under the radar”

He said that they were meant to benefit communities and improve the living standard of the society.

Epia further said that Orderpaper from its inception was in the business of correcting erroneous information and misconceptions about the role of lawmakers in the implementation of constituency projects.

He maintained that corruption and lack of accountability in the execution of such projects should not be apportioned to lawmakers alone, but rather the spotlight should also focus on contractors.

According to Epia, corruption cannot happen without the connivance and collaboration of contractors and the financial system (institutions) too”.

He urged stakeholders to see the dialogue as an opportunity to facilitate robust conversation and focus on how to collaborate with the private sector to deescalate issues hampering transparency and accountability.

Also, the Majority leader of the Senate, Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele, said that the success of the implementation of constituency projects was dependant on the conduct of all key players in the sector.

“No government, no matter how well organised, can guarantee a nation’s rebirth,”Bamidele said.

He called on members of the private sector to dedicate time and resources to the growth and development of their communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, stated that key players of the private sector should work in tandem with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA)

According to him, working with LEA like ICPC and EFCC will help curb the corruption in constituency projects.

Olukoyede, who was represented by Dr Eze Johnson, added that the input of members of the community was equally important in the implementation of projects.

He said they were the end users and their input will automatically reduce waste and prevent corruption.

The EFCC chairman praised the initiative of the policy dialogue, stating that constant discourse creates multiple solutions to prevailing issues in the implementation of constituency projects.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

11 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

12 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

12 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.