The Monumental N30bn Benin Stormwater Project Heist

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State recently unveiled the fraud that was the N30 billion Benin City Stormwater Project, threatening to empanel a committee to probe the project and recover monies stolen through it.

But not many people are conversant with the issues in contention. Below is a brief summary of the matters at stake:

1) N30bn in 2010 was $200mil.

2) The contractor revised contract to N35bn

3) The contract is still not completed

4) Technically, aspects of the design and implementation could never have drained some critical catchments particularly the Royal grounds

5) The contract for the construction for Textile Mill Road with drainage of the Royal Grounds awarded last year was N2.8bn ($8mil)

In the real sense, the most heartbreaking of this heist is the fact that the monies were sourced just to line the pockets of politicians. Not only was the design defective in addressing the issue for which the fund was sourced, the politicians during the last administration made away with public funds, without recourse to the suffering of the people, in whose name the money was collected. This is beyond callous.

Edo people must all stand up to ask those responsible to account for the money they were entrusted to spend on the project to better the lives of ordinary people.

No matter how highly placed, everyone who was responsible for executing the project must be brought to justice.

#EdoMustBeGreatAgain