Ata scandalous assumption of .5 metre diametre, all concrete fully reinforced walls, at the going rate of 33,000 per cubic meter (Federal Government rate) the main building will cost about 58 million from foundation to lintel. We also assume that the roof will cost twice the building therefore pushing the total cost to N160m. There must be a swimming pool so we assume it will cost N10m. It possibly will be paved with turpentine. In all, the main building should cost N200m. If the other 5 buildings cost N100m, the total cost of all the buildings will be around N900m. Add another N1bn for finishing, lawns and inner roads and 50 per cent margin, the entire cost of the project should not exceed N2.5bn despite the outrageous design quantified.I challenge the FCT to publish the priced BOQ because this contract is big fraud. Come to think of it, is it not madness and sheer insensitivity for the VP to amass 5 hectares (90 plots) of choice land in Abuja. I have been to the White House. The White House and the First Ladys office sit on less than an acre (6 plots); if you throw a stone just outside the fence, it will hit the roof of the White House. I took a picture touching the fence, I dont even know what Aso Rock looks like. Nigerian leaders are so insensitive. What is the VP using five hectares to do' I challenge Nigerians to call for an open probe of this contract, enough is enough!I wish to demand further explanations on these bogus figures. For all I care, N8bn is more than enough to flood Abuja and other major cities in Nigeria with high tech, smart CCTV cameras and other back end equipment that will make crime of any such difficult and render the security system for the VPs quarters unnecessary. Only a few days ago, the soldiers were back to their checkpoints, scanning booths of cars, causing untold hardship to road users because of the threat of Boko Haram. It simply means that we have not stepped up the security system to reduce all this bravado and bring technology and high intelligence reconnaissance to the rescue. May I ask, how much has the Federal Government spent in Abuja and the nation at large to arrest the current breakdown of law and order that it is proposing another N8bn for the house of the VP'I have some figures here to challenge Nigerians. A CCTV camera costs just about N15,000. So, N8bn will purchase 533,333 CCTV cameras. With these, all the streets in our major cities would have been covered. Many retired people will sit at home and monitor their streets through their solar-powered system and report any suspicious movement to the authorities. It will be difficult for evil people to get away just that easily, as it presently obtains.The figures of projects in Abuja are damning. We thought the corruption at the state level is not acceptable, but the one at the federal level is mind-boggling. It is scandalous. If the EFCC does not move immediately to probe all the federal contracts, the organisation should just simply fold up. As a citizen, I demand the publication of the Bills of Quantities and the contract prices, item by item. We do not want the Senate to hire consultants to review this; the consultants contract will also be over-invoiced. The present move by the Presidency to review contract cost to international standard is dubious, hypocritical and against due process. If it is admitted that those contracts are inflated, then several untoward things have occurred. First of all, the procurement process is flawed. This is where corruption is incubated at all levels of government. Secondly, the contract price is concocted. Finally, such contracts are never delivered to specification and design; they end up abandoned. I am so disappointed that this brazen corruption still exists despite the EFCC and ICPC grandstanding. I wonder why these agencies are not quizzing ministers and permanent secretaries under which these contracts were awarded by now! I am also confused about the sincerity of the President. I think history has favoured him too much and divine providence has smiled so brightly on him. But, will he trade these priceless gifts off for pecuniary gains'Final word here is that another antagonist to the oil subsidy removal has been created in me. I love the deregulated sector, I think private refineries could be encouraged if the forces of demand and supply reign in the downstream sector. What I cant buy is the campaign that removal of oil subsidy is the only answer to transformation of our economy. Not in the face of this shameless kleptomania that has engulfed our leaders. These corrupt practices have reached the head, the opulence of our ruling class and ex-leaders is simply brazen and the source is this grand contract inflation and the graft returns. If in the face of oil revenue earnings, beyond budget benchmarks, budgeted projects are not executed, even though excess revenues are shared among reckless father and prodigal sons, no development is seen, no one will be foolish to accept that increased revenue through removal of oil subsidy will translate into development. With the recent spate of treasury looting through over-inflated contracts, more revenue will only guarantee two things, more looting and more woes for Nigerians.ConcludedMark-Adeyemi, a sector reform specialist, wrote in from Abeokuta, via dayowumiayo@yahoo.co.uk
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