By Innocent Anaba

A civil society organisation, CSO, Campaign for Ethics and Good Governance has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to look into the multi-billion naira contracts being awarded by the Edo State government.

The group expressed shock that with less than three months in office, the current government had awarded contracts worth over N200 billion to some firms.

Among the contracts the group queried is the N20 billion consultancy for the  Benin-Asaba Highway project.

In the petition by group’s convener, Lucky Efe, which was made available to journalists, yesterday, he alleged that the state government approved and released the  N20 billion for consultancy to some beneficiaries.

The Benin-based CSO sent copies of the petition to the Attorney-General of the Gederation and Minister of Justice and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.

Efe said that last February, the state government signed a N228 billion agreement with the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria and AAA Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for the reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Expressway.

He added that the state government will invest as an equity partner in the 25-year Highway Development Management Initiative Concession to Africa Plus Partners, which wold  fund the road project. 

“We also want to know why the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Company, ICRC, the Federal Government regulatory company established by an Act of the National Assembly, was not involved in this project concession?

“Because the state government will not listen to the public outcry, we want the security agencies to come into the matter. How much public funds have been paid out to individuals in the name of the Benin-Asaba highway concession project. This matter should not and cannot be swept under the carpet. Edo taxpayers demand answers to these questions.

“As the voice of the common man, we await your diligent investigation to assure Nigerians that democracy still remains the hope of the common man.”