Senate sets up committee to probe transport sector under OBJ

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 30.04.2008

The Senate on Tuesday resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate funds appropriated for the transport sector between 1999 and 2007.

The decision by the Senate to probe road contracts since 1999 was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze.

Senator Eze’s motion was supported by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and 56 other senators.

The Senate resolved to set up a 12-member committee headed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri which will conduct inquiries and public hearings into Nigeria’s transport policy since 1999.

Senator Eze, who led the debate, said that some huge sums of money had been expended in the transportation sector, particularly road construction and maintenance since the inception of democracy without results to show for investment.

“Trillions of naira have been spent in the sector in the last 12 years, including but not limited to the over N100 billion spent on the rail sub-sector, the near N500 billion spent on roads maintenance and construction and the consequent need to train more attention on what happened or did not happen in that sector during the period in question.