Politics
Lagos reveals more of Fashola’s ‘overblown’ spendings
More revelations are being made of how the immediate past administration in Lagos State led by former Governor Babatunde Fashola, spent the state’s resources in the award of what could be described as overblown contracts.
A report published by the state government on the website of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency shows that Fashola approved N139m for the drilling of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
According to the report which was part of the awarded contracts by the Lagos State Tenders Board in 2013, the project was completed by Deux Projects Limited.
In the same year, N640m was spent by the Fashola administration for the reconstruction of a car park and other associated works at the Lagos House, Marina. The report stated that the N640m contract was given to Julius Berger Plc as part of phase two of the reconstruction of Lagos House where Fashola lived during his eight years in government.
In the same year, N300m was spent on the relocation of cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The contract was awarded to Deux Projects Limited.
According to the report, the former governor also spent N175m to replace the railings of a pedestrian bridge on Carter Bridge from Ido to Idumota with concrete railings. The contract was awarded to A Abicon Engineering Limited.
Also N220m was reportedly spent on the facility management of the Lagos State University College of Medicine. The contract was awarded to Deux Projects Limited.
The former governor, according to the report, spent N619m on surface repair on Ajara-Erekiti-Iragon-Ikoga Road in Badagry Local Government, and spent N1.2bn on the construction of an unidentified multi-storey building in Onikan, Lagos.
The former governor was also said to have spent N1.6bn on the construction of a 48-bedroom hotel at Lagos State VIP Chalets, Badagry.
Read also: Inside details of how Fashola, Ambode fell out
About N510m was spent on the remodeling and equipping of the official residence of the state’s Chief Judge at 4 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, according to the report.
About N165m was spent on the construction of an 18-classroom block at Ajara Senior Grammar School, Ajara Badagry. The same amount was also spent on an 18-block classroom at Community Senior/Junior Secondary School, Bayeku, Ikorodu.
Fashola had recently come under fire for spending N78.3m of taxpayers’ money on his website, tundefashola.com.
Although the figures were published on the official website of the state government, the former governor said all the monies were duly approved by the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.
Fashola warned against attempt by some persons to tarnish his good image and misrepresent his budgetary spending to the members of the public.
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D-guy
August 24, 2015 at 8:43 am
These people are becoming petty, my people have an adage which says ‘only a fool will invest N1m in providing light while looking for a lost needle that cost 10kobo’. I am for probe of corrupt leaders but we have to be reasonable in our approach.
Man Kay
August 24, 2015 at 10:34 am
These are mere publications of contracts awarded during Fashola’s administration, it has failed to prove they were overblown as speculated. Where are the facts and evidences that they are overblown contracts.
We will wait for Ambode to complete his tenure and will compare how he manages funds.
Was Tinubu’s government wasn’t better in award of very frivolous contracts?
Charlez Don
August 25, 2015 at 1:12 am
do you used 135m to dig borehole in your full community? fool
Man Kay
August 25, 2015 at 10:45 pm
135 million naira can definitely be used for a bore hole contract. Have you examine the bore hole and all its other supportive structures? Please make available the Bill of Quantities before making senseless accusations.
billion$
August 24, 2015 at 12:27 pm
hmmm,they should leave ds man alone na…hian!
Oise Oikelomen
August 24, 2015 at 3:48 pm
My respect for the man called Babatunde Raji Fashola remains. He is one of Nigeria’s finest leaders. Let them dig up anything they like about him. He made a lot of difference, far more than most other politicians, including some of his present detractors.
James Iliya
August 24, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Can the same Lagos state government tell us, how Tinubu awarded contracts when he was a governor of Lagos state? This people use fashila’s good work to campaign, but they are now busy rubbishing his person. To hell with this power mongers. The public will not trust them no more
Bukola Ajisola
August 24, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Lagos State Public Procurement Agency is only lending itself to the role of devils’ advocate.These are matters for EFCC to handle and Governor Ambode must be bold enough to either subject Fashola’s tenure to an administrative probe or stop this agency from further blackmail.Ambode owes Lagosians copious explanation as to the stewardship of his predecessor irrespective of party affinity.As the CEO of Lagos State he cannot play the ostrich or use proxy to execute public policy.It’s dereliction of state duty on the part of the governor to allow a government agency to doll out unsubstantiated allegations against a former governor with reckless ignominy,it smacks of small mindedness and a reductionist triumphalism.Fashola is not above the law,if as a member of the bench and a SAN he belittles his pedigree to have been found guilty as charged,then he must be made to face prosecution.This is the change we have subscribed to.
Man Kay
August 25, 2015 at 10:51 pm
That is not what we voted Ambode to do. Let him show us a better administration. We will measure him too when he leaves office.
He was once the State Accountant General, let him be bold enough to tell the public what he did that made Fashola to force him to resign .
adedeji Adekoya
August 25, 2015 at 2:36 am
Can these allegations can be true? If so, the RF should be prosecuted without further delay. But if on the contrary, he should also take a decision as a SAN.
Folorunso Folowosele
August 25, 2015 at 3:55 pm
“Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called JESUS made clay, and anointed mine eyes, … and I received my sight.
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this Man is a sinner.
He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” John 9:10-11, 24-25.
Whether BRF sinned as Governor of Lagos State or not, he did demonstrate that resources are available toward visible, feasible and lasting development with good leadership. BRF really was one of the best we’ve had in the recent past. He had a listening ear. At least on two occasions certain public issues came up during his tenure which were brought to his email provided on the Lagos State Officers Information, a page advertised in some dailies. Promptly, he acted on them without knowing the emailer in person. Let this INFO continue. The new administration in Lagos should improve on the past, ensuring that the said lapses are not repeated.
Bukola Ajisola
August 26, 2015 at 5:53 am
I’m getting persuaded that Mr Ambode is setting himself up as a one term Governor.With almost nothing on ground to attribute to his three months governance except this orchestrated shenanigans Apc might well have ceded the electoral space to Pdp particularly on the ticket of JK.Lagos electorates are not homogenous in party demographics,they are highly sophisticated voters with a bias for good governance.Any departure from this will make a power shift compelling.