The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in what appears an example of contract inflation that has helped undermine development in the country has expended the sum of N48 million on solar street lights.
In what appears contract inflation and racketeering, the Works and Housing Ministry in an FOI response signed by Mr. Ode Martins, the Director Planning Research and Strategy, obtained by MAWA Foundation, claims to have paid N48 million to install 40 Solar Street Light at N1.2 million each at Ubiaja community in Central constituency of Edo state.
The ministry in a meeting held on November 30, 2020, attended by Mr. Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary, and other Directors, awarded the contract to Messrs. Ginosko Resource Enterprise Limited.
This is even as online checks by the MAWA foundation show a single Solar Street Light goes for ₦21,999.
It is not however clear, the factors considered by the Ministry of Works and Housing in arriving at N1.2 million for single solar street light and N48 million for 40.
Please note: Picture not real, used for an illustration.