Former Governor of Lagos state Babatunde Raji Fashola’s integrity and anti-corruption posture seems to be nosediving daily.
The Lagos state administration under the leadership of Ambode Akinwunmi has listed as part of projects undertaken by the ex governor the renovation of an ‘unidentified’ building located at Onikan, on the Lagos Island.
The government published contracts listing of the immediate past administration on the online portal of the Lagos state public procurement agency. Other projects awarded by the state’s tenders board under Fashola include the drilling of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja at N139million, and contract awarded to Deux Projects Limited.
Another contract listed was a N640million construction of car parks at the Lagos House, Marina. The contract for the construction of the car parks was awarded to Messrs Julius Berger Plc. Yet, another is a N300million contract on the relocation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria cables at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, and awarded to Deux Projects Limited.
Another, N175million was listed for replacement of railings on pedestrian part of the Carter Bridge from Ido to Idumota. The contract was awarded to A Abicon Engineering Limited.
N220million was spent on the facility management of the Lagos State University College of Medicine; contract also awarded to Deux Projects Limited.
The surface repair on Ajara-Erekiti-Iragon-Ikoga Road in Badagry local government was awarded for N619million.
A whopping N1.6billion was spent on the construction of a 48-bedroom hotel at Lagos State VIP Chalets, Badagry. Another N510million was expended on the remodelling and equipping of the official residence of the state’s Chief Judge at 4 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi.
Also, N165million on the construction of an 18-classroom block at Ajara Senior Grammar School, Ajara Badagry while N16million went to the construction of an 18-block classroom at Community Senior/Junior Secondary School, Bayeku, Ikorodu, among others.
Stakeholders in the Lagos state, especially those in the opposition, have often cried out about the state’s rising debt profile. Many believe that most of former governor Fashola’s projects were inflated, elitist, and totally unnecessary.
Fashola, who is rumoured to be on President Buhari’s ministerial list, has been recently criticized for allegedly reconstructing his personal website with about N78million.
Fashola responded with a statement saying that there is no proof that he is has done any wrong in the website saga.
A part of the statement reads: “I have chosen to make this personal response because as the head of government at the time of the transaction, the buck as they say stops on my desk and also because of the many calls, text messages and mails coming from many people seeking clarification; and to prevent fiction from being mistaken for truth.
“The entire documents are with the Lagos State Government and are available for those who seek the truth. For the record, since 2008, long before the Freedom of Information Act ever passed, we had put out our contracts on the State website because people deserve to know. It is regrettable that a “summary” of the contract has been deliberately distorted to misinform the public,” he said.
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