Efio-Ita Nyok|12 November 2016
About a forthnight ago, Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade flagged off the construction work on a 133.7 kilometers Mfom-Okpoma-Imaje-Bekwarra-Obudu-Obanliku dual carriage road.
The construction of the federal road which will traverse the five local government areas, namely Bekwarra, Yala, Ogoja, Obudu and Obanliku LGAs that constitute the Northern Senatorial District of the state is valued at N31 billion and it is expected to be completed in 30 months.
Messer Sydney Construction was chosen by the state executive council in October 2016 for the commencement of construction work according to the state Honourable Commissioner for Works, Dane Osim Asu, who disclosed that the procurement for the construction exercise started in January 2016 in what was described as a very transparent process.
However, notable critics of the government have had their reservation over the project. Dr Ray Ugba Morphy and Ifere Paul have aired their suspicion.
Recently, in an open letter to His Excellency, Dr Morphy said:
'As a citizen of Northern Cross River, I am delighted to hear of this planned road even though the contractor is still hidden. Such a road project must be given to a first class firm so that the road will not turn out to be a wash wash road that will wash off after one rainy season. We have had enough experience with such, particularly roads recently constructed by Sermatek and Leophina!
'If you go to roads that these two companies completed in 2014, they are pot hole riddled and many have complained that these companies construct earth roads and paint them black to look like tarred roads. Sir, no matter who owns these companies, please shun them. Their track record in Cross River road construction is abysmal and a failure to say the least. There are roads in boki and many other parts of the state that Leophina abandoned halfway after collecting full payment! In case you don't know sir, documents abound and the citizens of those areas will gladly attest', he concluded.
Ifere Paul, another critic of the present state government proceeded to make inquiries. His research took him to Corporate Affairs Commission, a federal government agency responsible for corporate companies and allied matters to find out about Sinos Infrastructure Company Ltd. It was discovered that the said construction company, to which the government of Cross River State awarded a contract of N30 billion for the road construction is barely a year old with no experience at construction. No pre-qualification assessment was carried out on the companies by the state government, and there is no certificate of competence. The said limited liability company has only 10 million units of shares and is owned by a Chinese and Nigerian. In Ifere Paul's exact words, Governor Ben Ayade & His 419 Companies…Part 3.
'Two weeks ago, the internet was glossed with the award of contract for the construction or the dualization of Mfom-Okuku-Bekwara-Obudu Ranch Road to Sino Infrastructure Development Co. Ltd.
The company which was registered on 13th of January, 2016 sure has never done a construction job anywhere in Nigeria before. It is amazing that Pre-qualification assessment was not carried out on the companies by the Cross River State government.
This company as it is instituted, does not even have a certificate of competency for the execution of contracts, albeit, the construction of roads in Nigeria.
It is alarming that our Executive Governor, Professor & Senator Ben Ayade will throw caution to the winds in the awarding of contracts for a project of over 30 Billion Naira.
However, the discovery at the Corporate Affairs Commission shows that this company only has 10 Million ordinary shares divided between a Chinese expatriate and one other Nigerian.
Please see below the details and attachments of Ayade 419 companies.
1. NAME OF COMPANY: SINO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CO LTD
2. DATE OF INCORPORATION:
13TH JANUARY, 2016
3. PARTICULARS OF COMPANY PROMOTER:
NAME: IDOKO ENE LOVETH
ADDRESS: 33, ZONE E, APO LEGISLATIVE QUARTERS
4. SHARE CAPITAL: 10,000,000 (Ten Million)
5. PARTICULARS OF SHAREHOLDERS:
a. Name: Mr. Li Yanping
Address: 7, Anthony Ukpo Crescent, Nass Quarters, Zone A, Apo, Abuja
Nationality: Chinese
Shares Allotted: 5,000,000 (Five Million)
b. Name: Mr. Mpakaboari Patrick George
Address: Close 5, Block 4B, Elekahia Housing Estate, Rivers State
Shares Allotted: 5,000,000 (Five Million)
6. PARTICULARS OF DIRECTORS: Same as Directors
7. REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS: Plot 1675, BO5 Cadastral Zone, Utako- Abuja
See documents to validate the above information. Credit of source of documents goes to Ifere Paul. Is this another scam by the state government? Another scam to the tune of N30, 000, 000, 000!? Hmmmmm, I am currently shivering…
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org
