Some principal staff in the Rivers State Ministry of Works have been entangled in financial scam which involved over six hundred million naira (N600m).
The principal officers of the Ministry were said to have allegedly collected this amount from a Director of a major oil firm, doing business in the state to divert the construction of Trans Kalabari link Road from the Eagle Island Water front to Iwofe and link it to Tombia town.
The original design of the Trans Kalabari link Road is to pass through Eagle Island to old Bakana linking Bakana community to Bukuma and cross over to Buguma community, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area. The new plan if implemented will cut-off the major two principal and ancient communities of old Bakana and Bakana
The Newswriter was reliably informed that the “illegal diversion” of the road is to avoid disruption of the business activities of the multi-national firm operating across the Eagle Island.
Sources further disclosed to this weekly that if the Trans Kalabari Link Road is constructed as originally planned, it would affect the easy movement of the vessels belonging to the oil company operating at the shore of the Eagle Island.
Last week, there was a peaceful protest by the youths from both old Bakana and Bakana communities, accusing the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Victor Giadom for conniving with the Director of the Master Energy to divert the Trans Kalabari Road Project for what the youths of the both communities called “selfish interest”.
The youths accused the Rivers Commissioner for works of bribe scam. But when The Newswriter contacted the Commissioner, he denied the allegation of receiving bribe from the Director of Master Energy to re-design the construction of the trans Kalabari Road Project.
“My brother, I thank you so much that you called to hear from me. I don’t know what these people are talking about. I have never collected money from anybody. As I am talking with you now, I don’t even know the Director of the Master Energy” the Commissioner said.
Reacting swiftly to the allegations, the Director of the Master Energy said that it was not true that he gave bribe to the Commissioner in charge of the state Ministry of Works to divert the Trans Kalabari Link Road Project.
With the alleged diversion and re-design of the Trans Kalabari Link Road, it is clear once more that the project has suffered a fresh set back. Knowledgeable sources hinted this publication that, out of N28bn total cost of the said road project, only N4bn has been released to the contractor handling the project. ###
