The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has sent a letter to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, a sitting senator and the chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, demanding refund of ₦2,552,305,600.00 being payment for unexecuted projects awarded to him in 2017 under the 2016 budget of the Commission.
The NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Claver Okoro, Esq., said that in 2017, the Commission awarded contracts to certain companies for the production of desks and chairs for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region under the 2016 budget of the Commission.
He said the total value of the said contracts was ₦2,552,305,600.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Three Hundred and Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).
He said that instead of supplying the chairs and desks to the Commission’s warehouse in Port Harcourt or to any of the NDDC offices in the nine Niger Delta States, the items were supplied to a warehouse described as “Akuede Akwis”, located at Benin Expressway, Okpanam, before Wichetech Aluminum Company.
The letter also said that despite having been fully paid for the 2017 contracts for the production of chairs and desks, the items have not been supplied to the Commission.
The resultant effect of this is that the Commission and the Niger Delta region have been deprived of the use of the desks and chairs.
Here is the letter to Senator Nwaoboshi by the Director of Legal Services:
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi,
National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
Sir,
DEMAND FOR THE REFUND OF THE SUM OF ₦2,552,305,600.00 (TWO BILLION, FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED NAIRA) BEING MONEY HAD AND RECEIVED IN RESPECT OF CONTRACTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC DESKS AND CHAIRS FOR PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION.
The subject here above refers, please;
2. I have been directed to write to you and to state as follows;
3. That sometime in 2017, the Commission awarded contracts to certain companies for the production of desks and chairs for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region under the 2016 budget of the Commission. The list of the companies is attached as Annexure ‘A’. The total value of the said contracts was ₦2,552,305,600.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Three Hundred and Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).
4. That the contracts were in furtherance of the Commission’s education sector mandate as a catalyst for the improvement of classroom and learning conditions in the Niger Delta region.
5. That instead of supplying the chairs and desks to the Commission’s warehouse in Port Harcourt or to any of the NDDC offices in the nine Niger Delta States, the items were supplied to a warehouse described as “Akuede Akwis” located at Benin Expressway, Okpanam, before Wichetech Aluminum Company.
5. That the 2019 budget of the Commission also contains the following heads:
a. Provisions and supply of Plastic Chairs and Desks for Primary and Secondary Schools in Delta North Senatorial District (Lots 1-15) for (Serial No. 21).
b. Provisions and supply of Plastic Chairs and Desks for Primary and Secondary Schools in Delta North Senatorial District (Lots 1-20) for (Serial No. 33).
c. Production and distribution of Desks and Benches in selected schools in the Niger Delta Region for (Serial No. 396).
6. That despite having fully paid for the 2017 contracts for the production of chairs and desks, the items have not been supplied to the Commission. The resultant effect is that the Commission and the Niger Delta region have been deprived of the use of the desks and chairs.
7. That I have been further directed to demand that you refund the sum of ₦2,552,305,600.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Three Hundred and Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) to the Commission being the contract sum paid in respect of the said contracts within 14 days of this letter.
Please accept sir, the assurances of our highest regards and esteem.
Niger Delta Development Commission
Peter Claver Okoro, Esq.
Director, Legal Services.
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