By Archibong Jeremiah
Residents of Ayeabam community in Akamkpa local government area in Southern Cross River State, are suffering due to an unfinished road project awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2014 and the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) in 2021. Both contractors abandoned the project, and NDDC violated the Public Procurement Act of 2007, TheInvestigator uncovered.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, contracted Bayou La Batre Ltd to construct the Ayeabam-Awi road in Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State valued at ₦248,435,000.
On the NDDC website, the contract is listed as a completed project, but an investigation by this digital newspaper reveals otherwise.
Apart from lying that the project was completed, TheInvestigator established that NDDC violated section 16, sub 6(i) of the Public Procurement Act of 2007 in the contract awarded to Bayou La Batre Ltd.
The company was registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Valentine’s Day, 14th of February 2012, its registration number is RC 1010063, and the directors are Ozigbu Johnbosco, Arigbodi Richardson, and Amangala George.
It was incorporated for “petroleum products sales and distribution” services. Engaging it in constructing the Ayeabam-Awi road in Akamkpa violates section 16, sub 6(i) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 which mandates that a bidder must have “professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurements.”
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