The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, explained how his Ministry paid N151m to the Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of the Ife-Ifewara Road.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God had in a petition filed by Pastor Niyi Adebanjo on behalf of the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and dated 9th February, 2021, accused the ministry of making payment to the tune of N151m to Cartil Construction Limited for the rehabilitation of the road which the church rehabilitated as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
He had alleged that the ministry paid the money between 2016 and 2018 to the contractor that abandoned the road which was actually reconstructed by the church at a cost of N181m
The RCCG therefore urged the Senate to direct Cartil Construction Limited to refund the money and ensure its payment to government coffer.
The church had said, “If anyone is to be reimbursed for the rehabilitation of the road; it should be to the RCCG and not the contractor.”
But Fashola told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Thursday that the money was not paid between 2016 to 2018 to the contractors.
He explained that the contract for the road was awarded to Cartil Construction in December 2010 for N662m as a constituency project executed under the Ministry of Works; five years before the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
He said based on Section 36 of the Public Procurement Act, the contractor was entitled to 15 per cent as mobilisation fee.
He said the then minister first approved the payment of N99.4m to Cartil Construction Limited as 15 per cent mobilisation fee in 2011
He said having moved to site, a second payment of N52m was made on the 29th of December, 2011, bringing the total to N151m
Fashola said contrary to the RCCG claims, the ministry under him did not pay any money to the contractors between 2016-2018.
He said there was no proof that an unjust claim was made by the contractor or made by the ministry and that there was no basis for the petition.
He also said there was no evidence to back up claims that the funds were not released in 2011 to Cartil Construction Limited.
Fashola said, “The Ife-Ifewara Road is not a federal road. It is a state road within Osun State in the South-West Nigeria.
“It is a 6.3m wide single carriageway, 15km long with 1.5m earth shoulders on either side.”
Fashola therefore demanded an apology from the petitioner for making false claims, hence forcing the Senate to spend tax payers money to organise the public hearing.
Adebanjo, who petitioned the Senate on behalf of the RCCG, tendered an unreserved apology to the Ministry for claiming that the the N151m was paid to the contractors between 2016 and 2018.
The pastor also apologised to the Minister and the Ministry that the Church did not inform them before rehabilitating the road and for not doing proper enquiry before petitioning the Senate.
Adebanjo said, “I like to state very clearly that the core of this petition is not against the Ministry of Works and Housing.
“The basis for this petition is to call Nigerians to the corruption that is going on especially on road construction in this country.
“When Pastor E.A. Adeboye intervened, it was because his people called him. That road became a den of thieves and kidnappers. And when he was summoned, of course, we have a part to apologise for not going through proper procedure for the intervention.
“But the point being made is that Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited should be made to refund (money paid to it).
“We did a little to resolve this thing within the constituency itself, unfortunately we did not go further because of pieces of information that got to us.
“And on the basis of that we felt, erroneously though, that the best place for the society to hear us is here and that is why we came to this honourable Senate.
“Now as to whether certain funds were released after 2011, we do not have claims. What we got to know was that certain steps were taken.
“I would like to say with due respect to the Minister, in view of what we have heard today, that steps are being taken to deal with construction companies in this country that through the back door deny this nation resources that should be made available to do great things that will benefit the common man.”
He added, “There is no doubting the fact that the Ministry of Works deserves an apology from us and because the whole world is listening to us, I tender that apology unreservedly before this Senate Committee.
“However, I am saying that those things he pointed out we agree point blank that it was our omission and it is not going to reccur on our future dealings on our interventions any moment we decide to do it.
“So, Honourable Minister, on behalf of Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I like to apologise to you for whatever this has brought to the government under your watch.
“However that apology does not in any way remove the fact which is the core of this petition that Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited should be made to refund every single kobo collected.”
The Chairman of the Senate panel, Ayo Akinyelure, and other members of the committee including Senators Smart Adeyemi, James Manager and Sam Egwu, however commended the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for the timely intervention on the road.
-Punch