MINISTER of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the alleged approval of N42 billion rural electrification contract saying only N9 billion was approved.
Fashola made the claim while speaking to a House of Representatives probe panel investigating an infraction of alleged N42 billion rural electrification, He told the House joint committees led by Daniel Asuquo and Wole Oke that ‘’there was no contract of such a value’’ According to him ‘’such an amount was not even approved in the 2017 appropriation rather “what was approved was N9 billion’’.
The Minister reminded Asuquo, saying “if you remember, we requested for N20 billion but you only approved N9 billion and when I asked you why you said you can’t get everything and I kept quiet.”
While making a presentation during questions and answers session Fashola said “The sum of N9 billion was appropriated in 2017 budget and was applied in initial eight universities, the original plan was to apply it to nine universities and one teaching hospital and no contract of N42 billion as alleged’’.
He maintained The Energizing Education programme was initially presented as a streetlight instead of a comprehensive electrification project. He reiterates ”This time around, the allegation has risen against the same project and it is pertinent to state that the Energizing Education programme is the first youth and education targeted electrification policy in the country.
Meanwhile The Director of Procurement of BPP, Engr Babatunde Kuye has said he sent the letter hurriedly after confirming that the Bureau actually approved the contract in 2017 to the Committee. The lawmakers later allowed the Minister to leave the venue as he had earlier requested for the speedy hearing to allow him to catch a flight to Lagos for an event.