The Zamfara state government has revoked three contracts worth over N80 billion awarded by the immediate past administration of Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari between 2013 and May 2019.
The state commissioner of Information, Suleiman Tunau, announced the revocation of the contracts at the end of the maiden state executive council meeting which held at the government House on Wednesday.
According to the commissioner, a contract of rural electrification project across the 14 local government areas of the state was awarded to a firm in 2013, at the cost of over N25.9 billion.
Mr Tunau said over N22.5 billion had been paid to the company but the project had only reached 67 percent completion over the years.
Similarly, the commissioner stated that a Chinese company was also awarded a contract to construct 84 boreholes for rural water scheme under phase one and two in 2013 and 2018 respectively.
He said the cost of the phase one stood at N27.5 billion and over N19.3 billion was paid with 75 per cent completion
He added that the second phase cost the state government N27.6 billion on which over N14.4 billion was paid to the contractor adding that only 13 per cent work had been achieved.
According to him, all the contracts had been suspended and a Projects Verification Committee had already invited and discussed with the contractors where they were asked to refund the money for not completing the job.
The commissioner said the committee would give details in its report at the end of the verification saying that the state government was not happy over the way the contracts sum were overshot.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that these two contracts were part of the earlier issues the Matawalle led PDP administration questioned when it took over power in May 2019.
NAN reports that when the issues came up, both the former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and his aides defended the contracts at various meetings with journalists where they gave details regarding the quantum of the projects and the derivable benefits to the people of the state.
NAN
