Shocking: Nigerian Rural Electrification says 8 street light cost N20 million in Katsina

The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA), saddled with a mandate to promote rural electrification and co-ordinate rural electrification programs, in a clear example of what appears to be a corruption practice, has installed eight solar street lights in the Katsina community for N20 million.

Under the deal, the federal government under the Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) in the year 2020, allocated the sum of N20 million for the installation of solar street lights at wawarkaza and Unguwar Tsamiya communities in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The project that was implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency and was awarded to Flashy Funmi Global Concept Limited only installed eight solar street lights despite the sum of N20 million allocated for it.

Tracka, a public accountability organization that was in the community to inspect the project, said only eight solar streetlights were installed at Tashar Tsamiya community while nothing was done at the wawarkaza community.

A check by MAWA Foundation shows that Flashy Funmi Global Concepts Limited is located at Abuja in No 6 Blk 36 Kano Street off Aladja Street Area 1 Sect 2 Garki.

Worse still Mr. Joseph Dayo, an engineer while speaking to MAWA Foundation, said that amount is enough to electrify an entire community with solar power and wondered why Rural Electrification Agency will spend it on only eight streetlights.

When MAWA Foundation sought Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency explanation, Mr. M.D. Bala, who said he is no longer the north-west coordinator while speaking via a telephone conversation, said the project is still ongoing, pointing out that it has been extended to March 2021.

He, however, added that a conclusion can only be drawn if after March 2021 and the project is not completed.

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