Kwara road projects: Permanent Secretary speaks on allegation to scheme out local contractors

Dr. Yusuf Manjo, Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Works and Transport, has debunked the allegation that the ministry was planning to scheme out local contractors from bidding for the road projects initiated by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
A statement signed by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Ayinla Sangodare, in Ilorin on Saturday quoted Manjo as saying that contrary to the false charge by a group of indigenous contractors claiming to be members of the All Progressives Congress, many local contractors have registered.
The statement added that the ministry had never made any attempt to inflate the tender fees in favour of any outsider.
It said that fees for road contracts vary according to their categories, as it had categories A to F Tender fees for contracts for N100 million, N500 million and N350 million respectively since 2014.
Manjo said: “The review of the fees is within the capacity of the governor, if he wishes without lowering the standard of work, and such a gesture will be of benefit to every contractor.
“If, however, the new government of which we are all loyal stakeholders desires to give a downward review, then this would be the prerogative of Governor Abdulrazaq.”
Manjo said Kwara State residents do not need a palmist to tell them and the world that Abdulrazaq was beating the people’s imagination in terms of performance.
He said: “His performance since assumption of office has been a source of joy and excitement to all in the state and my office is also working diligently to see that the tempo continues.
“All payments in respect of road projects are being made to Kwara Inland Revenue Service (KWIRS), not the ministry as wrongly alleged in the group’s petition.
“The contractors, who tendered for Osi/Obbo Road, paid tender fees of N750, 000, each paid to the account of the KWIRS.”
Manjo added that road projects were from N5 million to N10 million SUBEB’s classroom contracts, adding that all road contractors were aware of this.
The Permanent Secretary said that any attempt by any official to discredit the present government was a waste of exercise, adding that the present government was an administration with full legitimacy.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ministry had on July 26 published awareness for tender processing for interested bidders on page 5 of The Herald Newspaper.