EXCLUSIVE: N2.4Trillion Contracts At Risk Of Secretive Awards As 11 Nigerian States Fail To Maintain Transparent Open Contracting Portals
The lack of transparency due to the non-functionality of the open contracting portal in Ondo State and Delta State raises uncertainty about the recipients of the lucrative projects and contracts worth billions of naira.
N2.4 trillion in contracts is at risk of secretive awards as at least 11 states have failed to maintain transparency portals, threatening accountability in infrastructure spending.
Notably, SaharaReporters learnt from official budget documents that Ondo State had budgeted N222.2 billion for capital projects in 2024, but lack of transparency raises concerns over how these funds will be allocated.
The lack of transparency due to the non-functionality of the open contracting portal in Ondo State and Delta State raises uncertainty about the recipients of the lucrative projects and contracts worth billions of naira.
Specifically, Delta State has earmarked a substantial N408 billion for capital projects, but the secrecy surrounding the award process fuels concerns about potential favoritism and misallocation of funds.
Details of how the states will spend the funds cannot be easily accessed by residents since their open contracting portals are inactive.
The expenditure for the 2023 fiscal year in Delta State cannot be found on its portal, thus making information on the 2024 capital expenditure awards a tall order.
Edo plans to spend N188.5 billion on different capital projects while Bauchi plans to N178.6 billion on similar projects. Edo state last updated its open contracting portal in 2021.
Jigawa state plans to spend N176 billion on capital projects; Katsina, N331 billion; Kaduna, N317 billion; Nasarawa, N86 billion; Oyo, N224 billion; Kwara, N178 billion and Osun, N109 billion.
Nigeria currently ranks poorly in corruption perception index, ranking a lowly 145 out of 180 countries, according to Transparency International.
SaharaReporters has at various times reported contract corruption at the subnational level of the country.
A lawyer, Barrister Kehinde Awosusi, told SaharaReporters that the open contracting portals are important to strengthen democracy and open governance.
“The accessibility of the open contracting portal will help transparency, accountability and help to ensure participatory governance,” he said.
“People will also be able to know what the government is spending money on and how they are awarding contracts strengthening governance in the process.”
Credit / Sahara reporter
