In line with the phase two of its constituency projects monitoring in Abia South Senatorial Zone, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, on Friday, June 29, 2020, visited Obikabia Junction and later Umuagu-Umunwankwo-Ohuru road to inspect the solar street lights installed in the said communities as attracted and executed by the senator representing the zone, Sen. Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe.
The monitoring team was made up of Mssrs. Waribo Emeka, the liaison officer to the senator representing the Abia South Senatorial Zone, Obi Steven of the ICPC, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the executive director of FENRAD and Constituency Executive Projects Tracking Unit (CEPTU, as acronymed) which was equally represented in the team that monitored the Phase 2 of ICPC Constituency Projects Tracking for the month of March, 2019.
In a statement signed by Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor. Executive Director of FENRAD, said the team observed that within Obikabia Market Junction along Ochendo and New Umuahia roads, 15 solar street lights were installed and standing.
The projects monitoring team also questioned the traders within Obikabia market, whereby, they revealed that the solar street lights were in good repair and gives light with favourable weather.
FENRAD, from the monitoring observed that:
Three companies received different sums from the said amount in line with installation of the solar street lights and are to wit:
I) Global Six-Sigma Concepts Ltd: which was awarded a contract with the sum of 9 million naira to supply 15 poles for 15 solar street lights covering Seven Up road, Ogbor Hill, Aba North LGA (with 7 poles) and Glass Industry Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba (8 poles) respectively.
II) Dotlands Integrated Concepts Ltd: which got awarded the contract to install 34 solar street lights in Abala community of Obingwa LGA at the sum of 21 million naira. One out of the street lights, as FENRAD saw, was in a broken-down state with component parts like battery apartment and panel casing missing.
lll) Laguf Allied Company Limited: which received 21 million naira to execute the installation of 35 solar street lights in Ohuru community which makes the project 51 million naira on the whole for the three awardees.
“Based on inquiry from community members and traders, seven (7) of the lights in Ogbor Hill areas covering Glass Industry and Seven Up roads do not function.
The team who visited Abala community, said no much feedback was gotten from the people.
“FENRAD understands the case of the broken-down light there could likely be an act of vandalization and calls on all communities within the state to protect, as custodians, all public properties within their communities. The 35 solar street lights in Ohuru community, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development FENRAD observed, were all standing and in good shape and the solar panel is serving the needs of the community by providing energy and power supply to the community
Later the team said to have visited His Royal Highness, Eze Osuagwu, the traditional ruler of Ohuru community who expressed his heartfelt delight and satisfaction at the projects in his community.
“Also along Umuagu-Umunwankwo-Ohuru road, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) gathers that the 30 street lights installed there were all in working order and serviceable”, parts of the statement reads.
“At about 1:38 PM, the monitoring team (both FENRAD and ICPC) in concert visited the traditional ruler within Umuagu-Umunwankwo-Ohuru road”.
“Received by Chief Nnamdi Njoku, Eze elect, the team was told that all the 30 street lights installed were working.
“The Eze elect expressed satisfaction with the senator for bringing home such laudable projects, also for single-handedly undertaking to build in Ahiaba Ancient Kingdom a mini-stadium for social and cultural development.
“He also called on the senator to still press for road rehabilitation and construction of the said areas.
“Such project tracking and monitoring allows the locals to see the dividends of democracy and also in line with open governance and accountability”, FENRAD concluded.
