In another questionable insertion into the 2024 budget, nonprofit organisation, BudgIT has revealed how Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, was awarded a contract to build classrooms and install street lights in some parts of the country valued at N1,574,704,473.
The research institute, which is one agency of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was established in 1964 to promote and improve the productivity of cocoa, kola, coffee, cashew and tea in Nigeria.
But in a clear violation of its aims and objectives, the institute is one of the conduits used by both the legislature and executive in the 2024 capital projects to siphon public funds through the award of contracts outside its core mandates.
The contract which appeared under the 2024 capital projects was for the execution of projects such as provision of empowerment materials, motorcycles, fridges, barbing kits, hair dryers, and generators to Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun State at the sum of N100,000,000; construction and renovation of selected classrooms in Khana/Gokana federal constituency of Rivers State for N200,000,000, and installation of solar-powered street light from Adekunle Banjo to Kasumu street Shangisha in Kosofe federal constituency of Lagos State for N50,000,000
Other projects are:
Construction of rural electrification in selected location in Afijio-Oyo East Federal Constituency: N495,926,518;
Construction of 1000 seater hall: N30,000,000;
Training and empowerment of unemployed youths and women in Ipele, Ifon, Upenmen community in Ondo State: N148,777,955;
Provision of empowerment materials for women and youths in Ikwerre/Emohua federal constituency, River State: N100,000,000;
Construction of Ukparama Comprehensive Health Centre Bolowou in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State: N100,000,000;
Supply and installation of all-in-one solar street lights with specification of 6MM high efficiency mono panel with battery standard in selected communities in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency of Oyo State: N100,000,000
Supply and installation of solar street lights in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Communities in Mushin 1 federal constituency of Lagos State: N100,000,000
Completion of 100 seater bed primary health centre in Emmanuel Primary School Ground, Ojota in Kosofe federal constituency of Lagos State: 50,000,000
Provision and installation of Solar street light in FESTAC Town of Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency of Lagos State: N100,000,000.
In a post on its X handle BudgIT, a Nigerian nonprofit promoting transparency and accountability in budget through data analysis called on the Federal Lawmakers to ensure that “These types of insertions should have no place in the 2025 budget”.
CRIN, headed by Dr Patrick Adebola, is not the only government agency used as a front by the National Assembly to launder public funds. The Federal College of Produce Kano was used for similar bogus projects across the country.
Awarding contracts to non-relevant agencies has become a norm in every fiscal circle, which is now known as budget padding in Nigeria’s political landscape.