Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa today awarded a contract valued at N3.6 billion for electronic surveillance in the state. The project involves the installation of cameras at designated locations.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa today awarded a contract valued at N3.6 billion for electronic surveillance in the state. The project involves the installation of cameras at designated locations.
Dickson made the announcement at his monthly revenue briefing in Yenagoa amidst grunts of disapproval by local contractors who complain of lack of patronage for jobs where local expertise exists.
It will be recalled that Federal government recently awarded a similar contract to an Israeli firm that sparked off a controversy which led to the suspension of the contract.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Ebikekeme Ere, a Computer Software expert, dismissed as hypocritical the claims by the government on promoting Nigerian content.
“The job that was given to the Israeli firm for $40 million can be done for $1 million,” he said. “I know the Chief Executive of the Israeli firm and we are peers in the computer world and my competences are verifiable but they do these things for capital flight and pay lip service to Nigerian content.
“A sensitive job like that should not be given to a foreigner, knowing its implications. Can you imagine a country outsourcing such jobs to a foreign interest?”
The governor described the contract as being part of the “Safe City, Safe State’ project, adding that it will ensure safety for investors, residents and tourists by helping to control crime.
He appealed to residents of the state to cooperate with the contractors, who would be installing electronic surveillance devices.
Dickson said the state had increased its internally generated revenue (IGR) profile and would further enhance it by ensuring tax compliance in the informal sector.
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