Edo Committee Uncovers N8bn to N16bn Inflation in Road Project Contract

The Edo State Assets Verification Committee has revealed that the contract for the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Road was inflated from N8 billion to N16.4 billion within a year under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki. The 17.5-kilometer project, initially awarded in May 2023 to Nsik Engineering Company, was subjected to multiple reviews, with the cost rising by 100% without any change in project specifications. The committee, which investigated based on a public petition, suspects the inflation was linked to funding for the September 2024 governorship election. The committee has called for further investigation into the matter.