NUDB Director, Others Kick As New MD Awards Contract To Self in Nasarawa

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By; SAMSON YAKI, Lafia


The Managing-Director of the Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB), Engr. Mohammed Wada has allegedly awarded a multi-million Naira contract to himself, generating protests from staff of the board and some government officials. 
Wada, who recently assumed the office following his appointment by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule and subsequent approval by the state House of Assembly (NSHA) awarded the contract for the installation of street lights in Lafia to himself. 
A top official of the board who disclosed this to newsmen Monday, alleged that the contract was also awarded without following due process. 
The official who spoke under condition of anonymity noted that the items for the installation were also supplied in his name. 
He appealed to Governor Sule to intervene on the matter as it  has already sent a “bad signal about his person and the administration”. 
Similarly, a staff simply identified as Mohammed noted that the new Manager-Director has also sidelined critical stakeholders in the running of the board’s affairs since assuming office. 
Mohammed lamented that Wada has assumed the role of the board’s Chief Executive and contractor, a total deviation from the anti-corruption posture of the present administration. 
He stated that by contracting the street lights installation in the state capital in his own name alone makes him a judge in his own case at the detriment of the state which isunfortunate. 
“What all of these means is even if they lights fall short of the required standards or specification, it should be consumed bitterly as it is now, who ensured that the lights were ideal for the state capital? 
“Who gave the approval for the contracts? Revelations all pointed out the fact that the MD gave the approval and contracted same to himself. This is impunity of the highest order. 
“To even say the least the lights where brought in with his name ‘Wada’ inscribed on the cartons as he flaunt it across the streets in Jos road during installation. If this is not true, then we demand to see the contractor handling the project or otherwise”, he added. 
A Lafia-based anti-corruption crusader, Ali Sulaiman vowed not to relent until relevant authority look into the matter and acted accordingly. 
“The question that begs for answers is why should other organizations i.e NAEPA, SDG, Ministry of Works and other state agencies advertise and issue out contracts for similar jobs while NUDB is doing something different? Pictorial evidence and classified informations on all this and more are available for all to see and we shall not rest until due process is followed in line with  Governor A.A Sule’s transparency agenda. 
“The light are not even bright for dual carriage road. This is unacceptable. 
“We wish to call on the attention of the state government and the state Assembly to look Into the matter for the common good of the state”, he appealed. 
Efforts to reach the Managing-Director for comments however proved abortive at press time.

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