A review of the Ekiti State Open Contracting Portal by
SaharaReporters has revealed that the state government recently awarded
contracts worth N4.2billion for the construction and enhancement of the Ekiti
State Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, despite previous claims that the
project was completed.
On January 21, 2025, the Ekiti State government announced on
its website that the airport was ready for commercial operations.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), was quoted as saying that the airport was "99.5% ready" for full commercial use.
He further stated, "As I mentioned, Ekiti Agro-Allied
International Cargo Airport is 99.5 percent ready for full commercial
operations. I am sure you have seen that we have gone around, the basic
requirements for the takeoff of an airport are here.
“You have the fire station, the tower, navigational equipment
already installed, all security equipment in place. The runway we have here is
of international standard. You can also see how big the apron is; it can park
many 737s with narrow bodies. A lot of narrow bodies can come here and anchor.
So, as it is today, Ekiti is ready for the world.”
Despite these claims, just three weeks later, on February 11,
2025, the state government awarded a contract worth N3.361billion for the
"supply and installation of an instrument landing system."
Notably, instead of awarding the contract to a company, the
contract was given to a "permanent secretary," a move that experts
say raises legal and ethical concerns regarding transparency and due process.
One day before this, on February 10, 2025, another contract
worth N543.9 million was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited for
“Repairs/construction of drainages and embankments at the Ekiti State Airport.”
On the same day, an additional contract worth N312.611 million
was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited for further airport enhancements,
including the provision and installation of a 1.6-meter-high steel fence.
Earlier, on February 3, 2025, a contract worth N46 million was awarded for the
installation of LPG canons and LPG bird repellers.
The contract was also awarded to the "permanent
secretary." Additionally, on January 29, 2025, a contract valued at N41
million was approved for the clearing and transportation of the baggage
handling system for the airport, again awarded to the "permanent
secretary."
The latest spending comes on top of massive financial
commitments previously made to the airport project.
Between 2019 and 2022, contracts totalling N36.7 billion were
awarded for the airport’s construction.
Between November 2023 and September 2024, under Governor
Biodun Oyebanji, an additional N46.7 billion in contracts was awarded.
Another N2.2 billion in contracts was approved between October
and December 2024. With the latest N4.2 billion in contracts awarded between
January 29 and February 11, 2025, the total amount spent on the airport project
between 2019 and February 2025 stands at N89.9 billion.
The continued awarding of large contracts despite claims of
near-completion has raised concerns about financial transparency and
accountability.
Experts argue that awarding contracts without a competitive
bidding process, particularly to a "permanent secretary," violates
procurement regulations and raises red flags regarding possible mismanagement
or corruption.
Given the staggering total expenditure of N89.9 billion,
independent auditors, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society organizations
may need to investigate the nature of these contracts to ensure proper use of
public funds.
When SaharaReporters contacted the Ekiti State information
commissioner, Taiwo Olatunbosun, he did not pick his calls as of the time of
this report.
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