An Investigation by The ICIR shows how fire stations built by former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, are rotting away for lack of fire officers and equipment.

ON OCTOBER 15 and November 13, 2018, few days to the end of his administration, former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who is now Nigeria’s Interior Minister, awarded 11 contracts to 9 firms at the cost of N223.2 million. They were for the construction of 11 fire stations in various locations in the state.

Over two years down the line, The ICIR’s investigation, however, revealed that many of the contracts were awarded as political patronage to APC chieftains in the state. What is more, although 10 of the fire stations have been completed, seven of them are rotting away. Work has not been completed on one while the remaining three which are currently in use are sparsely furnished.

The investigation also shows that there was no compelling reason for building the fire stations as there were no firemen or equipment to be used in them.

A document obtained by The ICIR from the official website of the Osun State government made available by the Public Procurement Agency (PPA) in the state revealed that a total sum of N223,244,143.87 was paid for the contractors for the construction of the 11 fire stations at N20.3 million each.

The document confirmed the completion of 10 fire stations, with the last one at 75 per cent completion stage. When this reporter visited the locations of the fire stations, ten of them have, indeed, been completed but not furnished, while the last one has remained uncompleted for over two years.

Findings revealed that the fire stations were constructed in Ede, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Erin-Osun, Iwo, Ila Orangun, Ikirun, Ikire, Ipetu-Ijesha, Ejigbo and Esa-Oke but are in disuse.

Project awarded to party faithful

The ICIR findings have revealed that some of the contractors that were awarded the contract for the construction of the fire stations are faithful of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party in the state.

For instance, the number one name on the list of the contractors is Dekfam Nigeria Limited, a company that has siblings and relatives of Adegboyega Famodun, the APC chairman in the state as its directors.

According to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) dashboard, Dekfam Nigeria Limited was registered barely six months after Aregbesola was inaugurated as governor. The date was April 6, 2011, with Registration Number: 946326.

It has No.12c, Obafemi Awolowo way, Aiyetoro, Osogbo, Osun State as its registered address, and is owned by Prince David Adekunle Famodun, Prince Janet Adebola Famodun, Prince Adedotun Babajide Famodun, Prince Joseph Adeyeye Famodun– all directors of the company.

The company, apart from being a private unlimited one, has no clear objective as to the kind of service it provides if it is construction, information technology-related, or general supplier.

When contacted, Adekunle Famodun, younger brother to the APC chairman in the state, whose mobile number was used for the registration of the company, told The ICIR that he is only on the board of the company but not the owner or fully involved in the activities of the company.

He, however, refused to disclose the owner of the company and also declined to speak on the contract.

“I am just a member of the board of directors of the company but not the owner. I am not aware of all the contracts being executed by the company,“ he said.

Dekfam, like every other company that got the contract, was awarded N20.3 million. It was saddled with the responsibility of constructing a fire station in Ede town.

Also on the list of the companies that got the contract was Al-Baqee Nigeria Limited, a company that has Hassan Oladepo Adedapo, an APC chieftain in Ejigbo Local Government of the state has its major director.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/job-for-the-boys-aregbesolas-n223-million-fire-station-project-built-by-politicians-rot-away-in-osun/

Where’s the fire station Nigeria no fit better let’s just go our separate ways! Which kind nonsense be this??

After indebting the state, Aregbesola still awarded contract to his cronies. These politicians no dey fear God.

O