Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the contractors awarded RUGA (settlements for nomads) projects last year.
Daily Trust reports that the federal government had allocated N2.25 billion in 2019 budget for the RUGA project expected to take off with the pilot scheme in 11 states including Benue. But the people of Benue State had rejected the project just as many other states of the federation cried foul, forcing the federal government to discontinue the idea.
Ortom, who called for the investigation during his remark in Makurdi when he received the new officials of Tiv socio-cultural body, Mdzough U Tiv, led by their President General, Iorbee Ihagh, disclosed that he was aware that money was released for the abandoned projects.
“I want to invite EFCC to probe the RUGA contracts in Benue and other states across the country. We understand that contracts were given overnight and money paid to contractors for RUGA in the country. Where is the money given to those contractors? EFCC must tell us,” he said.
The governor also alleged that the federal government has failed to actualise RUGA and has now sneaked in the Water Resources bill through the back door, and advised members of the National Assembly to reject the bill.
