Demanding Answers Over Gov. Abdulrazaq's Endless Cycle Of Inflated Contracts, Unused Projects And Culture of Waste
By Sulaiman Onimago
Interestingly, few days ago, one of Kwara’s leading news platforms, The Informant247, published an investigative report revealing how the Kwara State government has allegedly spent nearly N2billion on the Ilorin Visual Arts Centre, a project initially approved and awarded in 2020 for N755 million and unveiled in 2021, indicating that the project had been completed. The report further revealed that with no noticeable improvements or additional construction at the facility since its unveiling, the state government has continued to allocate hundreds of millions of naira annually to the project.
Unfortunately, this revelation comes as no surprise to people like me, given the pattern of alleged contract inflation and questionable financial practices that have marred Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration. From outset, this administration has been plagued by allegations of inflated contracts and underhand dealings, as repeatedly exposed by civil society and media organisations.
Kwarans will recall the controversies that surrounded the renovation of schools such as Government High School, Ilorin and Ilorin Grammar School (IGS), where contracts were allegedly inflated by N40.5million and N29million, respectively. The contract for the renovation of Patigi Secondary School was also allegedly padded by N31.9million. Not only were the contracts for these schools' renovations inflated, the contractors also delivered shoddy jobs and were not held accountable by the government.
Similarly, the Ilesha Baruba–Gwanara road project saw its cost significantly inflated by hundreds of millions of naira, an allegation the government later admitted months after it was exposed, as reported by Sobi FM. I am sure many Kwarans will remember another contract inflation scandal involving the Kwara Tractorisation Scheme, which was revealed by the now pro-government medium, Fresh Insights News. The same medium also exposed how the Kwara State Univesal Basis Education Board (KWSUBEB) fraudulently awarded contracts to cronies of the present administration, among whom was the Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor.
I also recall that a few months ago, speculations surfaced online, alleging that the state government twice awarded contracts for the renovation of Governors Lodge, Government House, a facility that Governor Abdulrazaq has refused to make use of since he assumed office. It was alleged that the initial contract was awarded to a crony of the governor, who failed to deliver the job.
The above-highlighted instances and many more that I can’t remember are reflective of the culture of waste and contract inflation that the Abdulrazaq administration has become reputed for. The exact amount spent on projects are not known to Kwarans as they're shrouded in secrecy. Governor Abdulrazaq and his men can continue to claim holier-than-thou, but by the time their administration comes to end and a new one comes on board, Kwarans will get to know the magnitude of corruption and malfeasance that pervaded this saint administration.
Back to the Ilorin Visual Arts Centre project that was allegedly inflated by about N1.3billion. One is left to wonder how nearly N2billion was spent on a project that was originally approved to be completed by N755million. The price variation between the amount budgeted and the amount that has so far been spent on the project is over 100 percent. What drastically changed in the nation’s economy in under one year that could have warranted such a humongous contract cost variation? More disturbing is that this facility has not been put to use since it was unveiled over a year ago, much like other unused projects done by this administration, such as the Tanke flyover that has turned into a motion ground for social media content creators and lovers who now shoot their pre-wedding pictures there.
I join other concerned people of Kwara in demanding an immediate explanation for this clear rape of our state resources. The government must come clean on this latest revelation. It is distressing that at a period when the majority of hardworking Kwarans are hit by APC administration-induced economic woes and are struggling to afford the basic necessities of life, they are constantly confronted by revelations of contract inflation and lootings going on under a government that only mouths transparency and accountability but does not match it with action. It must be said to Governor Abdulrazaq and his men that accountability must no longer be a hollow promise but a fundamental principle of governance. Kwarans are taking stock of how they are plundering their resources and will demand accountability at the appropriate time. The day of accountability is nigh.
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