Fresh controversy has emerged following a leaked memo from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu.
According to the memo, the president authorized release of N3 billion to the recently suspended Minister to verify the National Social Register of the former government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is said that the social registry was established to facilitate cash transfers and other social investment schemes. Several enterprises got contracts from the N3 billion provided to the suspended minister, a release that has stirred controversy and is being investigated by presidential investigators and anti-graft agencies.
The subject of the alleged document reads; “CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL; RE: APPEAL TO USE N3,000,000,000.00 (THREE BILLION NAIRA) FROM THE COVID-19 PALLIATIVE FUND FOR VERIFICATION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL REGISTER.”
“The preceding subject refers to. 2. Please be advised that Mr President has approved a N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) expenditure from the Covid-19 Palliative Fund for the verification of the National Social Register. 3. Please appreciate my highest regards. Femi Gbajabiamila, President’s Chief of Staff”.
Recalled that many companies were named as recipients of this contentious contract. Among whom is New Planet Project Limited, owned by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, which received a whopping N438.1 million for consultancy services.
Additionally, Periscope Consulting received N277 million, Blue Trend Enterprise received N277.8 million, Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services received N277 million, Memak Nigeria Limited received N277 million, MC Van Management Consult Limited received N275.8 million, and Danzinger Nigeria Limited received N275.8 million.
It was gathered that other companies that benefited from the N3 billion contracts include Blue Trend Enterprise, which received N277.8 million. As reported, the said company has no record of being registered and the owner is unknown.
Meanwhile, Periscope Consulting got N277million. Periscope Consulting, with registration number 1053019, registered on July 24, 2012, is owned by one Ngozi Maureen Ojiego, known for Interior Decoration. Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services Ltd received N277million.
Accordingly, Laitop with registration number 1340092, is owned by one Quburat Bolanle Bolanta. It was registered on June 6, 2016. Memak Nigeria Limited with no known ownership and date of registration got NN277million.
“MC Van Management Consult Limited with no records of registration also got N275.8million contract while Danzinger Nigeria Limited with registration number 635448, registered on Sep 23, 2005got N275.8million. Danzinger is owned by one Oladapo Rotimi Mohammed.
“All the contractors claimed they verified 11 million homes in Nigeria in under one month,” Ude added on a post on X (formerly twitter).
Recalled that suspended minister of humanitarian and poverty alleviation ministry, Betta Edu is fingered for authorizing the transfer of N585 million from public funds to a private account belonging to a project manager in her ministry.
Despite the absence of an airport in Kogi state, the minister reportedly granted aircraft tickets and airport taxis for her team’s trip to the State.
