Vice President Namadi Sambo has directed that all government contracts, including the coastal road project, must adhere to due process. Sambo gave the reminder in Abuja at a meeting to fast-track the conclusion of all processes for the beginning of work on the Niger Delta Coastal Road project.

He decried a situation where government agencies flouted established procedure in the award of contracts. Sambo, however, expressed confidence with the local consulting firm handling the project.

“I am one of the promoters of local engineering and architectural services firms, even in the construction sector. It is a thing of pride to have Nigerians involved in this important national project, but that must be done within the rule of law,” he said. Sambo said that government was anxious to begin work on the coastal road project as early as next January.

“We are anxious to start this coastal road project; we don’t have time to waste, already we are working on the financing of the actual construction work,” he remarked. The Vice President announced the establishment of a technical committee to review the submission of the consultants on the progress of work on the project. The committee is to be chaired by the Director-General, Bureau of Public

Procurement (BPP), Mr Emeka Ezeh. Other members are drawn from the ministries of the Niger Delta Affairs; Finance and Works, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Solicitor General of the Federation and that of the Vice President.

The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, is to review all outstanding jobs currently under execution and review all the commitments by the NDDC to the project. It is also to come up with a far-reaching recommendation that will ensure quick dispensation of all outstanding issues.

Earlier, the project consultants, Pearl Consultant, and Etheh Aro and Partners, had announced that they had concluded all the necessary survey works on the project, including its environmental and social impact assessment.