By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committee on Anti-Corruption, Environment and Habitat to probe into the N9.287billion “Clean Stove For Rural Women Scheme” contract awarded to Integra Energy Renewable Services Limited and report their findings not later than six weeks.
Sundiata Post recalls that the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan awarded the to prevent cutting of trees and using the wood as a source of energy for cooking, which is a major cause of desertification facing the country.
The mandate to probe followed a motion moved by Rep. Abiodun Faleke (APC Lagos) saying that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a contract for the supply of 20 million units of clean stove and wonder bags under the clean stove scheme for rural women at a unit cost of N464.00, amounting to about N9.287 billion.
Faleke further said that N5 billion naira has been released to the Federal Ministry Of Environment for the execution of the project by the Federal Ministry of Finance out of which N1.3billion mobilization fee was paid without recourse to due process.
The lawmaker expressed concern that less than 750,000 units were said to have been assembled and delivered at the velodrome of the National Stadium, Abuja, which was commissioned by former Vice President, Namadi Sambo.
He noted that there was no beneficiary present at the commissioning nor was anyone later given the stove to achieve its intended purpose.
The committee’s terms of reference include and not limited to, ”Finding out details of the contract; number of units supplied; mode of distribution and names of beneficiaries on a State by State basis.
”To determine the status of the balance of N952 million with the contractor in line with the 750,000 units of the clean stoves supplied at a unit cost of N464 at the value of N348 million out of the N1.3 billion paid out; as well as whether or not the clean stoves and wonder bags project had assisted in eradicating desertification in Nigeria for future consideration.