Posted by By BOLU-OLU ESHO, Ado-Ekiti on
Lands, Housing and Environment Commissioner in Ekiti State, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni, has been alleged to have single-handedly awarded N800m contract on waste clearing to his childhood friend.
Lands, Housing and Environment Commissioner in Ekiti State, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni, has been alleged to have single-handedly awarded N800m contract on waste clearing to his childhood friend.
The commissioner, who denied the allegation, said his accusers were mischievous.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a top officer in Governor Segun Oni administration revealed that the commissioner awarded the contract to an Ilorin-based waste cleaning service company, allegedly owned by his bosom friend without undergoing the normal due process.
According to the source, "We were dazed that a commissioner can single-handedly award a contract worth such a large amount without subjecting it to due process. What becomes the fate of thousands of women who were recently employed by the state government to sweep and clean the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, if they are awarding another contract of such huge amount for the clearing of the Ado-Ekiti metropolis?
"About four companies bidded for the supply of waste trucks, waste disposal vehicles among others but all were awarded to O'la Kleen Services based in Ilorin, a company with no record of handling any contract in the state in the past."
Describing the allegation as baseless, the commissioner said that about N400m contract for the cleaning of Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti metropolis was awarded to O'la Kleen after undergoing the due process and with the approval of both Governor Oni and the State Executive Council (SEC).
Declaring that the contract was awarded in collaboration with the Ado and Ikere local government councils, he said that the contract went through the Tenders Board.
"Those spreading the falsehood were just being mischievous. The contract in question is not even up to half of the amount they are claiming. I have no power to award such a huge contract; I have not even awarded a single kobo contract since I got to office.
"O'la Kleen was appointed as a consultant to ensure cleanliness in Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti townships, two important metropolises in Ekiti State and only a foolish man or the blind cannot see the good work that is being done as the Ado-Ekiti metropolis is wearing a new look," he said.