The Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the Kwara State Government’s spending on the rehabilitation of Kwara Hotel. The petition, addressed to Comrade Gambari Volvo, Director of Investigation and Public Petition (Kwara Central), raises concerns over the financial allocation to the project, transparency in contract awards, and economic justification for the expenditure.
Between October and December 2024 alone, the state spent ₦6.4 billion on the hotel’s renovation. In total, ₦13 billion was allocated to the project in 2024, while the recently approved 2025 budget earmarks an additional ₦10 billion. This brings the total cost to ₦23 billion over two years; exceeding the initial ₦17.8 billion reported for the contract.
Despite this expenditure, the state government allocated ₦0 for the construction or provision of public schools in 2024, ₦6.5 billion for hospitals and health centers, ₦491 million for water facility rehabilitation, and ₦10.8 billion for road projects.
ENetSuD’s petition outlines seven key issues, including:
The abrupt discontinuation of a previous contract award process.
Alleged disregard for a company that proposed a lower contract sum.
The same project description being used for both contractors.
The actual market value of Kwara Hotel.
The self-funded nature of both companies involved.
Absence of a clear mechanism for recovering invested funds.
Uncertainty surrounding the project’s completion timeline.
The petition urges the EFCC to investigate whether the Kwara State Government followed due process in awarding the contract, which was reportedly done in secrecy. Additionally, it calls for an assessment of the economic rationale behind spending ₦17.8 billion to renovate a hotel previously valued at ₦3.95 billion in 2017 and ₦5.42 billion in 2022.
ENetSuD also questions why the government ignored a company’s ₦3 billion concession model in favor of awarding the contract for ₦17.8 billion to another firm.
As public scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders await the EFCC’s response to the petition, with concerns growing over the transparency and financial prudence of the Kwara State Government’s expenditures.
