FG threatens to revoke clean cook stoves contract

The Federal Government on Thursday threatened to revoke the clean cookstoves contract, if the contractor fails to meet up with the agreement term.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Fatima Mede, made the threat while fielding questions from newsmen as part of activities to mark the World Environment Day in Abuja.

Mede said that the Federal Government had paid the contractor 15 per cent mobilisation fees of N1.3billion to the company, Renewable Energy Services Ltd handing the project.

NAN recalls that the Federal Executive Council had in November, 2014 approved 9.2billion to buy 750,000 clean cookstoves and 18,000 wonderbags for rural women.

According to her, the ministry is still trying to verify the quantity of the stoves before accepting the supply.

“What he supplied to us in not up to 15 per cent, we have written to him that what he supplied to us is not up to our agreement.

“We have written to him for us clarify the supply and count the supply physically before we accept them,’’ she said.

In addition, Mede explained that the ministry had wanted to inaugurate the project last month after the former minister; Mrs Laurentia Mallam had inspected the project.

She said that the ministry had to reverse the decision to confirm the supply before accepting to distribute them.

“Government wants to promote renewable energy so the money is safe; there is no cause to worry.

“We have told the contractor to verify the supply not only the quantity but quality before we distribute them to the beneficiaries, rural women.

“Also, we have the balance from the N5 billion released by the Federal Government in the ministry’s account so there is nothing to fear about the contract.

“Government is not going to lose any amount from the contract that is why we got bank guarantee, so if we discover that what he supplied is not up to the agreement, we shall ask the bank to give us the balance,’’ she said.

She, however, urged Nigerians to imbibe good sanitation and hygiene culture, adding that the ministry was working on framework to ban the use polythene and plastic bags.

NAN reports that the World Environment Day was instituted in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly on the advent of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment.

The theme for 2015 WED is: “Sustainable Consumption and Production’’ with the slogan; “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet, Consume with Care.’’