The immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki is said to have left a contractual debt burden of about ₦200 billion accruing majorly from commitments to contractors who were only given mobilisation fees.
This disclosure was made in a press conference by the Chairman of the Assets Verification Committee, Ernest Umakhikhe recently set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo to look into some activities of the Godwin Obaseki led administration.
“There are huge outstanding commitments in respect of road infrastructure. No matter how indecent some of our findings are, the government has to explore the dry season to make an appreciable intervention in road construction,” he said.
“Most of the ongoing projects were awarded during the year 2024 and that leaves the new government with a huge burden amounting to about ₦200 billion being outstanding commitments to contractors who were only given mobilization which in some cases were paid back to government officials as disclosed by some contractors.”
Umakhihe who said this was part of the committee’s findings however disclosed that the Okpebholo administration would need to make decisions that would ensure the dry season period is utilised in working towards the provision of good road networks in the state.
“The transaction on the Radisson Hotel project leaves so much to be desired. Whilst the project was initiated by the State Government by sourcing over ₦17.5b from the Stock Market and an initial payment of ₦2 billion for acquisition of land, it is noted that just before the exit of the immediate past administration, the ownership had changed, leaving Edo State, the core investor with 20% ownership.
“The Museum of West Africa Arts–MOWAA is captured as an independent private trust sitting on government land. The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism has minimal supervision on the project. Till date, Edo state has no equity stake in MOWAA even though the State had spent N3.8b as contribution.
“EDSG committing to paying over N5b for cyber security software license for the EdoGov platform for just three years starting from 2023 to 2025. Out of this sum, ₦1.7b has already been paid by the immediate past government. These are just some of the snippets of what we have unravelled.
“By the 6th January, 2025 when we return, we will be looking at other critical sectors of the State; the housing sector, education (SUBEB and EDOBEST), Ministry of Environment, College of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Nursing Sciences, Ministry of Health, all Agricultural projects including grants from donor agencies, Edo Oil Palm Project, EDSOGPADEC, MOWAA, Edo Electrification Agency, sale of shares in BUA Cement, the Modular Refinery among others.”
