The Ekiti State government has admitted that there were duplication of contracts between the state ministry of transport and works in its controversial N83.4 billion airport project between 2019 and 2024.
A SaharaReporters’ review of the Ekiti State open contracting data standard portal has shown that the contracts worth N83.4 billion were awarded by the state for the project in five years.
Before former Governor Kayode Fayemi launched the airport project for which he has been repeatedly received backlashes for allegedly deceiving Nigerians in 2022, contracts worth N36.7billion were awarded. That was between 2019 and 2022.
After the launching programme of the airport in 2022, additional contracts worth not less than N46.7 billion have been awarded for the Ekiti airport contracts under Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
These contracts were awarded between November 2023 and September, 2024.
The review shows that on October 26, 2020, the state government engaged a consultant for the construction of an airport in Ekiti State.
The consultant Kefe engineering limited was paid the sum of N610 million.
Another sum of N121.9 million was paid to carry out feasibility studies in terms of environmental and social impact for the Ekiti cargo airport, the contract was awarded to Ecologix environmental system limited.
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The government also paid N821 million for clearing the site and construction of fencing around the site of airport construction in Ado Ekiti. The contract awarded to CCECC Nigeria limited was contracted out in August,2020.
Another sum of N10.3 million was allocated for the renovation and refurbishment of the office allocated to the airport project team.
Establishment of survey beacon around the airport cost N2.5 million, construction permits and licensing fee on airport project took N125 million, in 2022, the sum of N1.9 billion was awarded for the construction of passenger terminal building at Ekiti state airport, Ado-Ekiti.
Additional works for airfield pavement in Ekiti state stood at N7.589 billion , construction of passenger terminal building which was awarded in 2022 stood at N2 billion while establishment of a standard meteorological station stood at N25 million.
Ekiti State Government Confirms Duplication Of Items, ‘Mix-up’ In N83.4billion Airport Contracts_.pdf
The state contracted out another sum of N81 million for consultancy on the FACADE design of the Ekiti state airport terminal building and another N81 million for procurement of consultancy for alternative passenger terminal design at the airport.
On June 23,2022, the state awarded a contract of N22.1 billion for construction of airfield pavement in the Ekiti state airport, while in August 2023, the sum of N2 billion was contracted for construction of passenger terminal building at the Ekiti state airport, Ado Ekiti.
On November 10, 2023,another sum of N7.5 billion was contracted for the phase two of the construction of the airport project, two days after on November 12, 2023, the sum of N1.1 billion was spent on airport operational and other equipment. On November 17, another sum of N1.1 billion was awarded for airport operational and other equipment.
Towards the operational take-off of the Ekiti cargo airport, the sum of N332 million was awarded on January 31,2024.
On the second of February, 2024, another N22.1 billion was contracted for the construction of airfield pavement at the Ekiti cargo airport.
On April 5,2024, the sum of N2 billion was awarded for construction of terminal passenger building at Ekiti state airport, Ado-Ekiti.
The variation of civil infrastructure work at the Ekiti cargo airport awarded on April 19,2024, stood at N10.791 billion, while N301 million was paid to communities affected by the acquisition of land for the Airport on May 2,2024.
A sum of N45 million was paid for works around the meteorological station at the airport. Another sum of N111.8 million was spent on fire service equipment for the Ekiti state airport on July 31,2024.
Internal electrification and installation of transformers at the airport cost N281.7 million on August 14,2024.
Installation of terminal flood lights and solar streetlights to the Ekiti airport stood at N275.9 million and was awarded on August 21,2024.
Another sum of N280 million was awarded for extending electricity from federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti to Ekiti cargo airport, the contract was awarded on August 21, 2024.
A N75 million contract was awarded for items needed to establish a security post at the airport and the contract was awarded on September 17,2024.
Another sum of N416 million was awarded for the supply of furniture and fittings for the Ekiti state cargo airport. The contract was awarded on September 17,2024.
There have been controversies around the execution of the airport project.
The executive director of the Bureau of Public Procurement in Ekiti State as of the time the project was started O’seun Odewale has been dragged to the court over allegations of corruption in handling of issues around the project.
Earlier in the year, the incumbent Ekiti state governor, Oyebanji Abiodun announced that the airport would be completed and become operational for commercial flights before the end of 2024.
Reacting to the findings, the Ekiti state information commissioner, Taiwo Olatunbosun, stated that the activities about the airport are in motion.
“All is set and going on well about the airport, we have partnered with essential agencies and also waiting for the NCAA to carry out their inspection also, before we fully commence our activities” he stated.
Initially he denied that the state government awarded N83 billion contracts.
“The figure you quoted on the state government awarding N83 billion contracts is incorrect. We did not award such contracts” he stated.
Moments later he called back stating that he has checked the state’s open contracting data standard portal and the contracts which SaharaReporters rightfully saw there have been subjected to duplication.
“The contracts listed have been duplicated. The ministry of transport and works which used to be together, were separated. When this happened, all contracts issued when the they were together were uploaded again, which may be responsible for the mix-up” he stated.
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