By Daniel Eteghe & Okebugwu Chinomnso

LAGOS -Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said yesterday, that the Bureau will henceforth recommend for the prosecution of contractors, who bid for government contracts with fake documents.

Ezeh, who spoke in Lagos after a meeting with the British- Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, noted that the bureau would use every available instrument at its disposal to prosecute such contractors.

According to him, “such criminal practice by desperate bidders will not be tolerated as the bureau had secured the understanding of law enforcement agencies to use the full weight of the law to deal with such contractors, who deny qualified Nigerians the opportunity to secure contracts that will add value to the economy and provide jobs for Nigerians through its execution.”

He explained that the Bureau had reached an understanding with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to ensure that such errant contractors were prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others, who are poised to frustrate the efforts of the Bureau at ensuring that only competent and transparent contractors were awarded jobs.

He noted that the BPP would continue to seek international collaboration on how to bring about a transparent contract procurement process.

insisting projects are expensive in Nigeria due to lack of physical planning, with the contractors not carrying out the technical survey and feasibility, and other components that could affect human lives where such projects are located.

Ezeh explained that it was for this reason that Federal Government continue to insist that only projects that have economic benefits for Nigerians in terms of creating jobs that will receive accelerated processing.

He added that the Bureau had continued to grapple with the evil of contractors making multiple entries for contract bids to shortchange the system.