The Edo State Assets Verification Committee has accused the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki of inflating the contract sum for the Benin-Abraka Road Phase 1C from ₦8 billion to ₦16.4 billion within one year.
The revelation was made during an inspection of the 17.5-kilometer road project by the committee’s subcommittee on Physical Assets and Infrastructure. The road project, awarded to Nsik Engineering Company Limited in May 2023, saw its contract cost revised thrice within a year, sparking outrage among committee members.
Engr. Ifiokebong Ekong, the project manager, disclosed that the contract sum was initially ₦8 billion, mobilized with ₦2.9 billion (25% of the sum). However, it was revised to ₦12 billion in 2024 and later escalated to ₦16.4 billion by June 2024. The project’s completion timeline was also shortened from three and a half years to 18 months.
Reacting to the revelations, Engr. Abass Braimah, a member of the subcommittee, described the 100% increase as unprecedented, questioning the rationale behind such substantial revisions without changes in the project’s scope. “This is an unfair deal to the people of Edo State,” Braimah said.
The subcommittee’s chairman, Patrick Obahiagbon, linked the inflation to alleged financial maneuvers ahead of the September 2024 governorship election. He noted that the findings aligned with a petition from concerned citizens accusing the previous government of inflating contracts to generate campaign funds.
Obahiagbon called the development “colossally unfair” and urged further investigation into the matter, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for Edo citizens.
