NUGA 2013: Sprinting into Controversy

NUGA 2013: Sprinting into Controversy

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife

By Duro Ikhazuagbe

With three months to the October 2 kick-off of the 24th Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the controversy trailing the contract awarded for the construction of an eight-lane tartan track at the host university appears not to have ended.

Last weekend, the company that was adjudged to have topped the ranking list during the bidding for the job, Messrs Sports-Life Service Limited, said it had given up and left the matter in the public domain to decide if due process was actually followed in awarding the contract.

“Initially, we were thinking of referring the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate or go straight to court to contest the university’s decision but we just did not think such options were necessary,” observed a spokesman of the company at the weekend.

Already, the indigenous company awarded the job, Vast International Company Limited, has mobilised to site and commenced work on the tartan track expected to be used for the track events of the 24th NUGA Games.

Spokesman of OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, told THISDAY Monday that there was no issue over the contract as the university would address all the matters raised by the parties that lost out of the job.

“Work is going on at the site and we are preparing to host a perfect games that will be remembered for a long time. My vice-chancellor will address a press conference on our preparations as well as throw light on some of the issues raised by those who lost out of the contract to construct the tartan track,” the university spokesman said.

He wondered how anyone would not give the job to the company that guaranteed six to seven years warranty.

"First, a meeting was held by the National Universities Game (NUGA) Local Organising Committee where four contractors namely; Sports Life Services Limited, Vast International Company Limited, Dynamic Sporting Solutions Limited and PRO Point were called and their submission analysed. At the end of the exercise, two main contenders emerged: Messrs Sports-Life Services Limited and Vast International Company Limited.

"During the interaction with each of the two contractors shortlisted, the following emerged: While Messrs Sports-Life Services Limited could not give any warranty on the Tartan track nor show any financial commitment whatsoever, Messrs Vast International Company Limited gave the university between seven to eight years warranty on the tartan track and also agreed to move to site and then be mobilised later, " Olanrewaju said.

There would have been no furore over the contract award if Local Organising Committee (LOC) that handled the bidding had not left some aspect of the process open to questions.

The committee comprising Prof. O.O Bolaji, Chairman, Sports Council, Prof. Augustine Isichei, a representative of the Director PPDU, Mr. O. Alao and the Acting Director of Sports, Dr. H.K. Olorunshola, had on April 11 held a meeting in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy to look at the bids of the four firms competing for the job.

Dynamic Sporting Solutions Ltd tendered a bid of N135,133,618 with the promise to complete the job in 48 days. Pro Point Ltd submitted a bid of N128,520,000, while Messrs Sports-Life Services Ltd bid N139,154,338 and Vast International Company Ltd submitted a bid of N190,201,110 but later adjusted it to N191,146,110.

However, after looking at the bids and assessed on all criteria, Sports-Life was picked first followed by Vast International.

But according to the university’s spokesman, “we were more convinced with the assurances and warranty for seven years on the track tendered by Vast that placed second. That company built our swimming pool here and has promised to carry out any complaint that may arise on this project.”

The submission of the LOC did not go down well with Sports-Life officials who felt they were used to rubber stamp awarding the job to Vast.

“If they (LOC) had made up their minds to give the job to Vast, why waste our time, calling us for a meeting at Zenith Bank in Ibadan? President Goodluck Jonathan has been around the world asking investors to come and be part of the economy but this kind of practice is not the time to entice foreigners here,” stressed the aggrieved party.

Despite the initial hiccups, the university is determined to meet up with putting its facilities in place for the games to kick off as scheduled.

Zenith Bank is committing N70million to the games as its own donation for a successful edition at OAU. Its officials told THISDAY they were not involved in the contract award and were not in a position to speak on the tartan track.