A construction firm, AG Vision Construction Nigeria Limited has been fingered with dubious practices in its dealings with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
The firm is recorded as one of the major companies awarded with the construction of roads and bridges in various communities across Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively.
However, findings by Daily Report Nigeria indicate that the company has a habit of not executing contracts, abandoning projects as well as submissions of proposals for fictitious locations.
According to an inside source, the firm is said to have received about N13 billion from the NDDC in the name of completed jobs even as most projects of these remain not started or uncompleted.
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“There are several projects the AG Vision Construction Nig LTD claimed to have been completed, however, some of these projects do not even exist, while some were not even executed by the company,” the source said.
The source said AG Vision Construction Nig LTD also submitted a letter of intent dated February 19, 2021, to the Bayelsa State Government, seeking to participate in any civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering work in the state.
“The company took jobs worth billions of Naira from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), without executing most of the jobs, which are listed in their brochure as completed jobs.
“Most of the projects the company submitted in their proposal were fictitious and cited in nonexistent locations, but were marked completed and paid for by the NDDC.
“The followings are some of the jobs AG Vision Nig LTD claimed to have completed in their brochure in Rivers and Bayelsa state respectively, whereas no one was completed
“Construction of Otuasega-Obedum-Emiripoko-Anyu-Emelogo Road/Bridges Bayelsa. Awarded on August 21, 2014, with a total sum of N9,763,216,104.40. In the AG Vision construction Nig LTD brochure, this job is listed on item 14, and in their narration, it is listed as completed. Whereas, the job is yet to be completed.
“Construction of Ibarudum Arkukwo Water Side Road, Rivers State. Awarded on July 27, 2014, with a total sum of N986, 079, 102.00. In the AG Vision Construction Nig LTD brochure, this job is listed on item 19. And in their narration, it is listed completed. For the records, there is no village called Ibarudum Arkukwo in Rivers state. Hence, this is likely a fraud.
“Construction of Esala River-Akani Link Road Rivers state. Awarded on July 27, 2014, with a total sum of N995, 076, 642.00. In the AG Vision Construction Nig LTD brochure, this job is listed on item 20. And in their narration, it is listed completed. Whereas, they have not done anything.
“The youths and leaders of this community are very angry over the claims by the company that this project has been executed.
“Construction of Ekago-Ebekekwerr Link Road, Rivers State. Awarded on July 27, 2014, with a total sum of N998, 533,042.00. In the AG Vision Construction Nig LTD brochure, this job is listed on item 21.
“And in their narration, it is listed completed. Whereas, there is no community With the name Ebekekwerr in the above area. However, Gov. Wike just flag off this same road at Abua/Odual to LCCL last week.
“I urge concerned persons to make findings to ascertain if these projects were executed by the A.G Vision Construction Nig Ltd,” the source added.
Attempt to reach the former spokesperson of the company, Chief Abelekum Okori remain fruitless as he has been on the run over pressure from authorities in communities where some of the projects were left abandoned by the company.
However, a close associate of Chief Okori revealed that the former Special Adviser to Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers is willing to meet with the state government to set the records straight.
Efforts to reach the Managing Director of AG Vision Construction Limited, Elle Abou Ghazale for comments were futile as calls to his mobile were unanswered.
I’ll expose corruption in NDDC – Wike
Meanwhile, the revelation by our source is coming just over a week after Governor Nyesom Wike threatened to expose massive corruption within the NDDC.
The governor lamented that the intervention agency had become a cash cow for politicians and their collaborators.
He said:
“NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians. The President has just inaugurated the new Board of the NDDC. N500bn budget for NDDC. An election is coming from the 25th of February. What the politicians have done is put pressure on the National Assembly so that they pass the N500bn budget for NDDC.
“At the end of the day, you can’t see the impact of N500bn for Niger Delta. Who are those superintending the Niger Delta? Are they not our children?”
The governor disclosed that the people of the Niger Delta do not experience the impact of the huge funds disbursed for the development of the area.
“I will use this budget to test you whether you will sit with your management to allow this N500bn to be siphoned to private pockets. I will use this one to test the Chairman of NDDC, our sister, Onochie.
“Our eyes are open, this N500bn, our eyes are open. I’ve told the Attorney General to get prepared to go to court and challenge them. This one, I will expose them.”
