Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secret Reporters
Data obtained by SecretReporters have shown that Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya-led government spent the sum of N1, 072,259,179.43 to construct and renovate ghost projects in the state.
According to the data on the Gombe State Open Procurement Portal, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, under the stewardship of Idris Abdullahi spent the amount in two separate contracts in 2020.
In the first contract awarded to CGC NIGERIA LIMITED, the sum of N832, 258,179.43 was used for the “Con. & ren. Of some projects in the state”. The ministry failed to reveal the details of the projects, suggesting a deliberate act to loot funds.
Findings show that the company that executed the project, CGC NIGERIA LIMITED, was incorporated in KADUNA, Nigeria, with Registration Number 210299, and was registered on 08 Dec 1992, with its current status unknown. The registered office address of the company shows PLOT 3016 KATAMPE HILL KUBWA ROAD, ABUJA-FCT.
Meanwhile, a check on the Corporate Affairs Commission shows that CGC NIGERIA LIMITED is not active. According to CAC, “A company that has not been filing its financial returns within a specified time is classified as inactive.”
Efforts to speak with officials to shed light on the contract details proved abortive as the phone number provided on the contract document was switched off as of press time.
In the second contract, which the ministry of housing awarded to itself, the sum of N240, 000.000.00 was spent on “Con. & ren. Of some projects in the state”. The ministry also failed to provide details of the contract.
A detailed check on the Gombe open procurement portal showed that of all the contracts awarded in 2020, only the two contracts mentioned above do not have detailed description of the contract.
