The Edo State Assets Verification Committee, established by Governor Monday Okpebholo, says it has uncovered alarming details regarding the inflation of the contract sum for the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Road Phase 1C.
The committee claims that the contract, initially valued at N8 billion, was inflated to N16 billion under the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The discovery was made by the Sub-committee on Physical Assets and Infrastructure during an inspection of the road project.
According to the committee, the contract for the 17.5-kilometre road project was revised three times within one year, with the most recent just months before the 2024 Edo governorship election.
The contract was awarded to Nsik Engineering Company Limited on May 16, 2023, with work commencing in September 2023.
Engr. Ifiokebong Ekong, the project manager for the construction firm, revealed that the company was initially mobilized with N2.9 billion, which represented 25% of the original N8 billion contract sum.
However, Ekong confirmed that the contract sum was revised upward in 2024, first to N12 billion, and then to N16.4 billion by June 2024. He also explained that the completion timeline for the project was shortened from three and a half years to 18 months.
Engr. Abass Braimah, a member of the subcommittee, expressed his dismay at the 100% increase in the contract sum.
“I don’t think there is anywhere in Nigeria or outside where a project can be awarded for N8 billion, reviewed to N12 billion, and then further reviewed to N16 billion. What has substantially changed for such a drastic increase? The job specifications have remained the same,” Braimah said.
The chairman of the subcommittee, Patrick Obahiagbon, added that the inflation of the contract sum within such a short period seemed to align with a petition received by the committee from concerned Edo State citizens.
The petition alleged that the contract inflation was a strategic move by the previous administration to generate funds for the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Obahiagbon expressed concern that the contract had been intentionally inflated to fund political activities, saying, “The petition from the citizens suggested that these massive reviews of the contract sums were linked to the election.
“It is troubling that the contract sum was revised upward twice in the lead-up to the election, which raises suspicions that this was done to divert funds for political purposes.”
Describing the situation as “sad,” Obahiagbon said that the committee would recommend further investigation into the matter.