The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) claims to have spent the sum of N219.5 million on HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in just one year at Plateau State, data from Budeshi, a PPDC’s platform has shown.
NACA, created to coordinate the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all HIV/AIDS prevention and impact mitigation activities in Nigeria carried out the awareness campaign in Plateau State in 2016, the same year it was accused of engaging in huge fraud in the management of funds.
Under the deal, NACA claims to have awarded a contract sum of N219.5 million to six different contractors for the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in some selected communities in Plateau State.
In the deal, the Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria got the sum of N45.5 million to carry out HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in the Mangu Bokkos Federal Constituency.
In another deal, NACA claims to have spent another N45 million in Kanke Local Government Area in Plateau State. A contract that was awarded to Aribosar Venture Limited.
In the same year, NACA dished out the sum of N47 million to Centre for Health, Education, And Social Economic Rehabilitation and Social Security as a contractor to carry out another HIV/AIDA awareness campaign in Kanke Local Government Area, a local government it had earlier claimed to have carried out campaigns earlier, leading to double spending in the same area.
NACA in a similar deal, awarded another contract in the sum of N47 million to Centre for Health, Education, And Social Economic Rehabilitation and Social Security to carry out HIV/AIDS awareness campaign at Jos South and Jos East Local Government.
In a similar way of dishing out monies to what appears a Bazaar spending, NACA gave another N35 million to Zevis Pharmaceuticals Ltd as a contractor to carry out awareness campaigns in Barkin Ladi and Riyom areas of the state.
Despite the huge resources spent by NACA in addressing HIV/AIDS, data from its website shows Plateau State ranks number 12 in the HIV prevalent state with 1.5 percent.
In the same year, NACA claims to have expended the sum of N219.5 million on HIV/AIDS campaigns in Plateau State, The Global Fund, the biggest contributor to Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS intervention, suspended its grants and accused NACA of fraud in managing funds.
The Global Fund said its audit showed NACA allegedly made a $20 million (N8.340 billion) payment to suppliers that delivered nothing and also failed to account for a $3.7 million (N125.1 million) in differences for anti-retroviral drugs.
NACA has a track record of not being accountable in the management of resources, and the case of HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Plateau where N219.5 million was expended in one year, maybe tainted with corruption.