By Tordue Salem, Abuja
Minister for Information and Communications Professor Dora Akunyili has urged  the House of Representatives Committee on information to start investigations into the alleged inflation of contract  for the provision of Outside Broadcasting Vans meant for the use of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) during the FIFA U/17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria last year.

Mrs Akunyili who AT a public hearing yesterday on Thursday held by the House Committee on Information lamented that years after the contract was awarded the transmission vans were yet to be supplied.

The contract which was awarded by the NTA management on the excuse that the vans in their possession which were over 14 years old were not sufficient to broadcast the competition as they were not IT compliant and obsolete.
Minister who denied insinuations that she was involved in the contract award and said she was willing to set up a panel to investigate the alleged scam and that anyone found to have defrauded Federal government would be reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

“Before the death of late president Umaru Musa Yar’adua I had written a memo to  him calling for a penal of inquiry into the matter  because I have worked very hard in life to get to where I am and I don’t want anybody to tarnish my image.” Akunyili said.

Committee chairman Rep. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (PDP, Nasarawa) said that it has become imperative for the committee to look into the issue thoroughly in order to punish those that may be behind the scam as this  will serve as a deterrent to other government officials who sees government funds a “National Cake” meant to be shared.