on The Utilisation of Forfeited Assets Monitored By The Cleen Foundation: Commends “Contractors” For Upholding Best Practices
For Immediate Release
Thursday 29th September 2022
Abuja – Nigeria
12:00noon.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT & THE BALWICK OF JERSEY ON THE UTILISATION OF FORFEITED ASSETS MONITORED BY THE CLEEN FOUNDATION: COMMENDS “CONTRACTORS” FOR UPHOLDING BEST PRACTICES
1.0 Introduction
The CLEEN Foundation on the 10th of February 2021 was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the USA Government as the civil society organisation to provide effective monitoring of the implementation of the tripartite agreement on the sharing, transfer, disposition, repatriation, and management of the Forfeited Assets. The forfeited funds worth $311.8million (Three hundred and eleven million dollars) is for the benefit of the Nigerian people for infrastructural development namely: Abuja-Kano Road, Second River Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
CLEEN Foundation and her consortium partners are required to monitor the utilisation of the forfeited assets. The scope of work is inclusive and not limited to compliance with regards to anti-corruption, anti-human trafficking, procurement practices, forensic auditing, engineering and infrastructure.
2.0. Methodology:
Since June 2021 – till date CLEEN have embarked on series of on-the-spot checks and unscheduled visits to these locations. Twenty-nine (29) Nigerian citizens domiciled in localities close to the project locations where constructions are ongoing were trained on the methodology to carry out the monitoring functions. These monitors were deployed to undertake unscheduled visits to the construction locations. Furthermore, the CLEEN and partners have embarked on four quarterly site visits to the three project locations since the commencement of this project in June 2021.
The Consortium during her monitoring visitations observed that construction work with regards to the application of the forfeited assets have made substantial progress across the 3 project site locations between June 2021 – date. The quality of work observed appears to be consistent with acceptable standards and contractors are currently working assiduously towards ensuring the timely completion of the project across the 3 locations.
The foundation is working towards providing massive visibility for the 3 project locations to intimate Nigerians on the credible work that is happening across the project sites. On the 12th of November 2021, the consortium held a press briefing to intimate Nigerians on the progress of work done around the 3 project sites. Currently, there’s a dedicated website assestmonitoring.org.ng which is populated with all the necessary information about the project and will be launched formally today and open to the general public. Four (4) jingles have been produced in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and pidgin, which has been circulated on different social media platforms and will hit the radio stations across the 3 project locations in the coming week.
Conclusion
While leveraging on the increased level of cooperation between the CLEEN Consortium, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the Federal Ministry of Justice, we will be embarking on our 5th quarterly visitations to the project locations in the coming month. CLEEN will continue to update Nigerians on the status of the project through its media handles, the website assetmonitoring.org.ng created specifically for the project and other traditional medium of communication
Gad Peter
Executive Director
CLEEN Foundation