Govt, Peterside bicker over N16bn law school project

Rivers State Government and former Managing Director of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, are bickering over the N16bn Nigeria Law School project awarded by the state government. Governor Nyesom Wike had awarded a contract of N16bn for the law school project. But Peterside, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in the state has queried how the […]

Rivers State Government and former Managing Director of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, are bickering over the N16bn Nigeria Law School project awarded by the state government.

Governor Nyesom Wike had awarded a contract of N16bn for the law school project.

But Peterside, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in the state has queried how the governor arrived at such an amount.

Peterside, while saying he was not opposed to building such a facility in Rivers State, queried how the contract was awarded from the “breast pocket” of the governor without bid or provision made for it in the state’s budget.

He wondered how such a huge amount of money was being expended without approval from the Rivers State House of Assembly, adding that due process in terms of advertisement and competitive bidding from interested contracting firms was not followed.

But reacting, Rivers State Government in statement said the State Executive Council on the 26th of July, 2021, sat and gave approval for the construction of the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School.

The statement added that “selective tendering” was done, adding that the said project passed through due process and met all requirements.

The statement added that the Bureau of Public Procurement issued certificates of no objection for all its 15 lots.