A combined combined photo of Muhammadu Buhari and Julius Berger logo
By Our Reporter
Details of how President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly stopped one of Nigeria’s construction giants, Julius Berger PLC, from padding bribes for senior government officials into contracts have emerged.
In his book, “According to the President,” former presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu disclosed how Buhari shocked a delegation of Julius Berger from padding the contracts awarded the company.
He said the padding was shared among senior government officials and where not, houses, medical vacations, among others.
Writing on pages 121 and 122, Garba Shehu in the book wrote: “The chance to spell out this message clearly to senior government officials and the business community came on 6 November 2015 when a delegation of the Board of Directors of the giant construction company, Julius Berger, handling government contracts such as roads, railways, bridges and facilities management, visited him at the State House.
“He told the delegation led by Mr Muitu Summonu, who was once Group Chair of Shell Nigeria: We have been informed that percentage cuts – 10per cent or more – are built into your contracts, to be shared among government leaders and civil servants. This must stop. We’ll not accept kickbacks.
“We have equally been informed that you, as handlers of major contracts, build homes for government leaders. You buy expensive cars and maintain them for the beneficiaries. When they, or close relations fall ill, you take [them] to hospitals abroad, including the use of air ambulances when that is warranted at no cost to them.
“Our finding is that nothing you give is free. All such costs are built into government contracts. We don’t want that to continue.
“You have built a strong reputation over the years for doing good jobs, delivering them on time. The roads you built all over this city (Abuja) are still in good shape. You built the State House, Aso Rock Villa. So, we will continue to patronise your services, but the high costs will be checked.
“From now going forward, the added costs and all this padding must end. If we ask for quotations from you, tell us the actual cost that the project entails. No 10 per cent, no added costs.
“An eerie silence greeted the riot act as read by the president. No one in the room complained against his assessment nor was there any dissent.”
Officials of Julius Berger have yet to respond to the assertions on the encounter with Buhari.
Credit: GWG
