Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
By Our Reporter
In the thick of economic crisis bedeviling the country, the Lagos state government under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the production of the official portraits of President Bola Tinubu and his own portrait at a staggering sum of N73.1 million.
The project according to Daily Trust findings was executed by the office of the Chief of Staff and was awarded to Flolizvi Connect.
In the same vein, the sum of N44.8 million was approved for the clearing of vegetables within the Epe Mixed Development Scheme.
According to records from the state’s Public Procurement Agency (PPA), the project was awarded in May to M/S Obak Nigeria Enterprises by the Lagos State New Towns Development Authority.
Recall that Governor Sanwo-Olu was criticised over the approval of N7.5 million to replace liquid fragrance in his office and N3 billion to purchase rechargeable fans for the office of his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.
The office of the Chief of Staff also got the approval of N80.8 million on June 19 for the procurement of ten units of foreign used vehicles.
The same office got the approval of N440.75 million for the purchase of a brand new Lexus LX 600 Bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicle.
The office also got N18.5 million for the supply and distribution of 2,000 Noiler chickens across the local government areas and wards in the state.
The government also approved N152 million for the restoration of the water supply at Iduganran Palace, the official residence of the Oba of Lagos.
Records also showed that the state approved N581 million to renovate Saint Andrews Anglican Church in the Oke-Popo area of the state.
While reacting to the report, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, wrote to the state Public Procurement Agency, that his office got N2million instead of 2billion published by the agency to purchase rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridges.
Hamzat in a memo addressed to the Director General of the procurement agency, said the approval for the project was N2million.
He also claimed that his wife got N2.5million each for her monthly outreach to indigents and empowerment programme as against the N30million captured by the agency.
Hamzat in a memo signed by Director, Finance and Account, Tola Ekemode on behalf the Permanent Secretary in the office of the deputy governor, said the report by the agency was untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded.
