The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has refuted online reports that his office got over N2 billion for the supply of rechargeable fans and lights as well as fridges.
Reports that Hamzat got the amount, including N30 million monthly for his wife for outreach purposes, gained attention online, leading to widespread criticism.
According to an internal memo addressed to the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, the deputy governor’s office disclosed that it got N2 million as against the N2 billion being reported.
In the memo dated November 20, 2023 and addressed to the Director General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, the Office of the Deputy Governor described the open letter containing the figures as “untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded”.
Signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, the Director of Finance and Account, Tola Ekemode, described the procurement agency’s claim as a total misrepresentation of facts.
It, however, urged the agency to take prompt action in addressing the issue by giving the general public a true account of what was approved for the Office of the Deputy Governor.
“According to the online news, the Office of the Deputy Governor was reported to have awarded the sum of =N=2,017,840,000 for the provision of supply items (rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridges),” the memo read.
“It was also reported that the office spent =N=30,000,000 monthly for outreach to indigents by the Wife of the Deputy Governor and the same for the monthly empowerment programme by the Wife of the Deputy Governor.
“The Office of the Deputy Governor wishes to state in unequivocal terms, for your immediate action and the attention of millions of readers that the report is untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded.”
The deputy governor’s office stated that it was compelled to write the letter due to the inaccuracies it conveyed, arguing that the story was completely different and not a true reflection of what it had in its records.
“Also, we would not allow some individual(s) and journalists with mischievous inclinations to bring the personality and name of the Deputy Governor, his wife and the office to disrepute.
“It is important to state that truly, the office did get approval and awarded the provision of supply items (rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridges) for the sum of N2,017,840 (Two Million, Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Naira) as against the =N=2,017,840,000 (Two Billion, Seventeen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira as reported by Doherty in his purported letter,” the memo added.
In a related development, the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Fatai Idowu Onafowote, said the agency acknowledged the misunderstandings arising from a lack of clarity on the amount accruable to the deputy governor’s office.
Onafowote said the agency is committed to ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accountability in all government transactions, as mandated by the Lagos State Public Procurement Law
“We regret that specific details, particularly concerning the descriptions of government dealings, may have inadvertently led to confusion, impacting both governmental entities and corporate partners providing services to the State. This arose largely from the lack of detailed descriptions in the project information, which has inadvertently led to confusion in the public space.
“We empathize with public concerns and extend our sincere apologies for any distress caused. It’s never our intent to cast doubt or cause misunderstandings that might tarnish the reputation of respected individuals and organizations involved in these transactions.
“To address these concerns thoroughly, the Agency has taken immediate steps. Line-by-line explanations of the contracts in question are attached herewith, aiming to provide absolute clarity and dispel any lingering misconceptions.
“The agency will continue to improve its internal processes and communication methods as our commitment as a government is to offer clearer and more accessible information to the public,” the statement read.
