The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, has commenced a joint nationwide verification and tracking of constituency and zonal intervention projects executed by the Ministry across the country.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the housing ministry noted that the Special Projects Unit supervised the execution of Federal Government constituency and zonal intervention projects, while the ICPC enforces compliance, due diligence and integrity in budget implementation and public expenditure.

The exercise, according to the ministry, is aimed at ensuring that all projects are delivered strictly in line with approved specifications, uphold transparency and probity, and guarantee value for money for Nigerians.

The joint verification is being conducted simultaneously in all states where the projects were implemented.

Teams comprising officials of both institutions have been deployed nationwide for on-the-spot inspection, verification and assessment of project status and quality.

According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, represented by the Director, Special Projects Unit, Olatunde Ajayi, said the initiative was designed to evaluate the impact of constituency projects and ensure Nigerians derive the intended socio-economic benefits.

“This joint verification and tracking exercise with the ICPC is aimed at evaluating the impact of these projects and ensuring that they are executed to standard for the benefit of the people,” Belgore said.

He stressed that the exercise underscored the Ministry’s commitment to accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship of public resources, while serving as a warning to contractors.

“The ministry, in collaboration with relevant oversight agencies, will not hesitate to invite contractors for corrective action where deficiencies are identified, or demand refunds to government coffers where projects have clearly failed to meet contractual obligations,” he added.

Belgore noted that reports generated from the exercise would support evidence-based decision-making, help assess the relevance and level of project implementation, and identify areas requiring adjustment to strengthen future planning and interventions.

Also speaking, the ICPC Head of Constituency Projects Tracking, Bello Idris Bakori, said the Commission’s involvement reflected its mandate to prevent corruption through proactive monitoring of public projects.

He said the joint exercise was intended to deter sharp practices, promote transparency in project execution and ensure that funds allocated to constituency interventions translate into tangible development outcomes.

Bakori assured that findings from the exercise would be thoroughly documented and followed up in line with extant laws and procedures to protect public interest.

Projects visited during the flag-off in Kano included the provision and installation of solar streetlights in GGSS Kwa, Bichi Local Government and Rimingado Local Government, as well as the construction of a sporting facility, indoor complex, football pitch and pavilion in Gwarzo town.

Others were the construction of the Badume–Kyauta Road in Dawakin Tofa and Bichi local governments. The tracking of projects executed in Kano State continues on Thursday.

This effort builds on broader anti-corruption tracking initiatives by the ICPC, which has been monitoring constituency and executive projects since 2019 to ensure public funds are directed toward impactful outcomes, curb corruption and improve service delivery.

In the past, the Commission has tracked billions of naira worth of projects, compelled contractors to return to sites to complete abandoned work and recovered funds and assets for government coffers. (The PUNCH)

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