An anti- graft group,The Yobe Progressives Union (YPU),has expressed concern over the state of disrepair of health facilities, roads and other critical infrastructure spread across Yobe State in spite the alleged release of over N1 trillion by the Governor Mai Mala Buni led administration.
The national coordinator of YPU, Malam Bulama Ali Shettima expressed the concern in a statement obtained by Vital News on Tuesday.
He noted that it has become pertinent for Governor Mai Mala Buni to ensure that due diligence is followed in the award of contracts and execution of same before the end of his second term tenure in 2027.
The anti-graft group warned that concentrating key contracts in the hands of a single construction firm is a red flag which opponents and detractors could use to undermine the governor in the days ahead.
The group noted that more disturbing is the fact that over N50.5 billion allocated to fix human-interest facilities like maternity wards of some of the general hospitals have been left at ‘sorry state’ to the detriment of the citizenry in the state.
The YPU refered to the renovation works for the general hospitals in Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, Geidam, Gashua and Damagun which it said cost a whopping N5,557,578,065.00 cumulatively with the money fully released to the contractor to buttress their claim.
The breakdown of the contract sum per facility, according to the report of an adhoc committee of the Yobe State House of Assembly chaired by Hon Adamu Dala Dogo that allegedly indicted Damuli Investment indicated that the General Hospital Damaturu renovation stands at N950,357,173.00; Potiskum, N960,234,134.00; Nguru, N970,345,165.00; Gashua, N975,736,867.00; Damagun, N800,268,862.00; and Geidam, 900,635,864.00 respectively.
The group noted that it is unfortunate that all the affected facilities stopped at 25 per cent completion stages with no indication that it will continue.
Other high profile jobs the firm allegedly got and monies were said to have been paid include line drains in Gashua town, Bade LGA at N561,443,550.00; concrete drainage in Damagun at N350,982,125.00; drainage at Potiskum General Hospital at N975,166,345.00; and concrete line drains in Potiskum at N800,118, 442,495.56 respectfully.
While the Gashua line drains is at 25 per cent completion, the Damagun drainage, Potiskum drainage and Potiskum line drains are all at 50 percent stages according to YPU.
The group asserted that it is disheartening that despite this glaring anomaly, the Yobe state House committee contradicted itself by giving Damuli Investment a clean bill of health, claiming that the company has lived up to expectations, and that the entire contracts jobs worth over N1 trillion were executed in accordance to specifications.
It noted : “The Gujba government lodge contract which was awarded since early 2024, only attained 10 per cent progress even though the entire sum was paid to the contractor.
“Curiously too, out of the 32 contracts awarded to company and probed by the committee, only one, that is renovation of a 3-bedroom apartment at the Specialist Hospital Yusufari, which contract sum was put at 40,324,987.90, attained 100 per cent completion.
“Non of the remaining others went above 50 per cent while some, like the rehabilitation of triple cells and culvert, laterite filling of Dogon Kuka, Daura Road in Fune LGA is possibly abandoned at 2 per cent completion stage.”
The group particularly claimed that the situation is not also helped by the fact that a high profile official of the state government believed to be angling for the governorship of the state in the 2027 poll is also believed to be an associate of certain figures in the aforementioned construction company.
“As for the revelation the House committee probe threw up, there is urgent need for Governor Buni to purge himself of the growing suspicion and speculation that he may be aiding the pilfering of the state resources through a proxy to advance a parochial interest, by launching an independent investigation into the scandal.
“That way the justice sought by the Gujba elders will have been appropriately served,” the group stressed.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
