The Edo State Assets Verification Committee has disclosed that the former administration led by Godwin Obaseki left behind contractual debts amounting to a staggering ₦200 billion.
The chairman of the committee, Dr. Ernest Afolabi-Umakhihe, revealed this on Thursday during a press conference in Benin.
Speaking on irregularities in project executions, Afolabi-Umakhihe alleged that mobilisation funds paid to contractors were sometimes siphoned back to government officials.
He, however, advised the current government of Governor Monday Okpehbolo to leverage the ongoing dry season to resume road projects, many of which were hastily awarded in the months leading up to the September 2024 elections.
“The state cannot deny Edo people the opportunity of good road networks, especially during this dry season. There is a need for the government to act swiftly to sustain some of these ongoing road projects,” he said.
He highlighted the urgent need for continuity in infrastructure development, noting that outstanding commitments for road infrastructure had placed a heavy financial burden on the new administration.
“Most of the ongoing projects were awarded during 2024, leaving the new government with a burden of about N200 billion in outstanding commitments.
“Contractors have revealed that mobilization payments in some cases were returned to government officials. This has, of course, slowed down the pace of work,” Afolabi-Umakhihe stated.
The committee also pointed to lapses in supervision by key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Afolabi-Umakhihe revealed that several projects were poorly documented and did not comply with the Edo State public procurement law.
“There were non-adherence to procurement laws, leading to dubious variations in contract sums. In some cases, these variations exceeded the initial contract value,” he explained.
He also raised concerns over the controversial Radisson Hotel project, which he claimed was mishandled during Obaseki’s tenure.
“The project was initiated with N17.5 billion sourced from the stock market and an initial payment of N2 billion for land acquisition.
“However, just before the administration’s exit, Edo State’s ownership stake was reduced to 20 per cent. This must change. The state must reclaim its prime position as the core investor,” he declared.
The committee further exposed irregularities in other key sectors, namely: The Edo State Oil Palm Project Office was flagged for operating as an opaque entity under the direct supervision of the former governor, with consultants hired at exorbitant costs.
Similarly, the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) project, sitting on government land, has left Edo State without any equity stake despite a ₦3.8 billion contribution from state coffers.
Lastly, technology projects were outsourced to private consultants, with suspicious financial claims, including a commitment to pay ₦5 billion for a three-year cyber security software license for the EdoGov platform.