By Our Reporter
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works, has begun a nationwide Special Tracking Exercise aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure spending.
ICPC spokesperson, Akor Odey, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, revealing that the initiative will focus on the physical verification and performance audit of 760 federal road projects with a combined contract value exceeding ₦36 trillion.
According to Odey, the exercise, which commenced on November 14, has mobilised joint teams comprising ICPC investigators, engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works, and independent experts drawn from professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). These teams have been deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to conduct comprehensive on-site inspections.
Odey explained that the large-scale tracking initiative is designed to advance several key national objectives, beginning with enhancing fiscal governance to ensure sustainable, cost-effective infrastructure delivery and the optimal utilisation of public funds.
He added that the project also aims to strengthen procurement integrity by uncovering and deterring fraudulent practices in contract awards, enforcing contractor accountability through rigorous monitoring of project execution, and compelling the completion of abandoned projects in line with contractual standards.
Another major objective, he said, is the recovery of public funds from contracts found to be inflated or where contractors have failed to perform.
“The ongoing fieldwork involves a detailed review of project sites, records, and deliverables. After this stage, state-level findings will be consolidated into a comprehensive national audit report,” Odey stated. He said the report will outline compliance levels, identify irregularities, and provide the basis for enforcement actions against individuals or entities implicated in wrongdoing.
Describing the effort as a “proactive, system-driven approach” to safeguarding national infrastructure investments, he noted that tracking 760 projects of such magnitude demonstrates the ICPC’s commitment to closing financial leakages, promoting accountability, and ensuring that public projects translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
Odey reaffirmed the ICPC’s dedication to working with government institutions to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s procurement and project execution systems.