The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos, Funso Doherty has written to the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on some of the controversial projects observed on the state’s procurement portal.
Doherty had examined the procurement portal of the Lagos State Government and flagged some projects awarded for the second and third quarters of 2023.
In a post on X, Doherty said, “I just wrote an open letter to the Governor on Public Procurement awards reported by LASG for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2023, highlighting a number of issues for further scrutiny and remedial action. Judicious use of public funds is always important, and is especially so now.”
In the letter, he noted that N18,468,000 was awarded to the office of the chief of staff for the “supply and distribution of 2,000 Noiler chicken across the local government areas and wards in the state”.
Another sum of N440,750,000 was awarded to the office of the chief of staff for the “procurement of a brand new Lexus LX 600 Bullet Proof Sport Utility Vehicle for use in the Pool of Office of Chief.
Among the items flagged is also the “Provision of Supply items (Rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridge in the office of the deputy governor” which was procured under the office of the deputy governor.”
The item was awarded to Judkom Enterprises in July, 2023 at the sum of N2bn( 2,017,840,000).
Also pointed out is the sum of N7,475,000 awarded for the “replacement of the liquid fragrance in the Office of Mr Governor, Lagos house, Ikeja.
“The office of deputy governor was awarded the sum of N30,000,000 for “monthly outreach of indigent citizens by the wife of the deputy governor.
“Another N30,000,000 was awarded for monthly empowerment programmes of the wife of the deputy governor.”
Calls and text messages sent to the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos state governor, Gboyega Akosile were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
This is not the first time that Doherty has written to Sanwo-Olu over the affairs of the state. In June 2023, he wrote the state government over the rising debt profile of the State after it commenced implementation of its N1 trillion bond issuance programme.