Jamiu Folarin
Motorists, residents, and communities along Kemta-IdiAba-Ajebo road in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital are having harrowing experiences over the deplorable condition of the road.
The long stretch of the road hosts several institutions such as Chrisland University, Ogun State Television (OGTV), Babcock College as well as the site of the proposed Federal University of Medical Sciences.
Also located on the axis are worship centers, businesses, automobile technician villages, quarries, sawmills, and housing estates.
Entrance to the Workshop of Auto Motor Spare Parts at Ajebo Road
The deplorable condition of Sawmill to OGTV axis of the road has been taking a deadly toll on most of the vehicles and also resulted in the loss of lives in auto crashes.
Rockcity F.M in collaboration with BudgIT, showed interest in the endless dualisation of the Abeokuta-Ajebo road from Sawmill to OGTV, after discovering, on the GovSpend portal, that the federal government has awarded a contract for the project since 2021.
The GovSpend Portal was developed by BudgIT using the data sourced from Nigeria’s Open Treasury portal.
The project was financed with “Sukuk V” fund, a non-interest loan facility accessed by the federal government.
The contract for the dualisation of the 3.5-kilometer stretch of the Sawmill-OGTV section was awarded to Westgold Engineering and Development Consults Limited and HMF Construction Limited.
The Yard of HMF Construction Limited at Abeokuta-Ajebo Road
The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing released over N1.4 billion in nine tranches between March 2022 and August 2023 to the two contractors.
According to the breakdown of the fund released, Westgold Engineering and Development Consults Limited was paid the sum of N39.4 million in three tranches for “Consultancy Services for the Production of Engineering Design for the Dualisation of Abeokuta-Ajebo Road Spur Iyana Mosa Road in Abeokuta.”
The consultant received the sum of N17.7 million on 11th March 2022, and another tranche of N8.6 million on 1st of June 2022 with the last payment of N12.9 million paid on 10th August 2022.
Similarly, the Ministry of Works and Housing paid in six tranches N1.4 billion to HMF Construction Limited for the dualisation of the section.
HMF Construction Limited first received the sum of N359 million on 1st of July 2022, N359 million on 30th of September 2022, N269.3 million on 10th October 2022, N134.6 million on 20th December 2022, N269.3 million on 15th June 2023, and N22.4 million on 17th August 2023, totaling N1.4 billion.
The road project first appeared as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) in the 2021 budget with N480 million allocated, then in the 2022 budget it received N850 million, and another N1 billion in the 2023 budget of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, totaling N2.3 billion.
Out of the N2.3 billion appropriated for the project in the three consecutive years, over N1.4 billion was released to the contractors to execute the project.
Infographic of Budgetary allocations, Amount Received by Contractors, and Value of Projects Executed on Abeokuta-Ajebo Road Project
When a Rockcity FM reporter visited the site of the construction on 30th November 2023, the workers were seen doing skeletal work on the drainages of the road project.
All the drainages to both sides of the road are almost completed, the road median for dualisation was partly completed while asphalt is yet to be laid on the road.
Construction of Drainages at Ajebo Road
Since then, questions have been raised by communities in the area about the delay by the contractor in completing the road, especially now that the rainy season has stopped.
Rockcity FM, through a phone call, contacted the representative of Westgold Engineering and Development Consults Limited contracted to undertake the engineering design of the road project.
Mr Oluwaseun Hassan who identified himself as the Managing Director of the company confirmed being awarded the contract.
Mr Hassan said his company had since produced the engineering design for the dualization of Abeokuta-Ajebo road and submitted it to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja.
“The project was awarded somewhere around 2021 and we sprang into action and we did all the design we needed to do and we submitted all that we needed to submit.
“What we did was a reconnaissance survey, that is the investigative survey, and we submitted the report. Then after that, we did substantive design and then we produced the design drawn, then we produced the bill of quantity, and whoever wins the contract, I don’t even know, whatever he priced it to be, I don’t know because we are not part of the tender board.
He however said his company was not tasked to monitor the implementation of the engineering design by the contractor who is handling the dualisation of the road.
“They didn’t engage us to do post-contract supervision. So, I don’t know what is happening now as regards the project supervision. The project was done more than two years ago, and we have produced all the design reports.
When Mr. Hassan was asked whether there is any outstanding payment his company is expecting from the federal Ministry of Works after the completion of the consultancy service, Mr. Hassan said:
“This information I am giving to you is administrative, I am only privy to it when I need to sign. I remember when they called us to bring the original award letter to effect the final payment, I asked them to look for it and return it … and they only do that when they want to make the final payment. They did that I think early this year (2023).
“Concerning the payment you quoted, I will not be able to tell unless I printed all the statements from January to December for the two years within which those payments were made. That is January to December 2022 and January to December 2023. As I speak, it is the auditor’s problem.”
Projects Signposts of dualisation of Abeokuta-Ajebo road
All efforts to track the contractor who is handling the dualization of the road did not yield results.
Using Open Source Investigation Technique, it was discovered that Engineer Idris Adeoye is the chairman of HMF Construction Limited.
But the company did not have much digital and online presence and all efforts to get contact details of any of its directors or officials proved abortive.
The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is yet to respond to the FOI requests on the project sent by BudgIT to its headquarters in Abuja.
When Rockcity FM visited the Ogun State office of the Federal Ministry of Works at the Federal Secretariat in Abeokuta, the Deputy Controller of Works who identified himself as Engineer Bayo Olusade insisted that journalists do not have the right to track federal government projects in the State until they are invited by the Ministry.
Rockcity FM also reached out to the office of the Minister of Works, David Umahi through the contact he released to the public encouraging all stakeholders to be actively involved in monitoring projects executed by his Ministry.
“The public is hereby requested to assist the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA by supervising the contractors that will be engaged in these palliative works and indeed all ongoing projects of the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA.
“It is the right of every Nigerian to have value for their money deployed to the road infrastructure sector and therefore must show both interest and passion in all the ongoing projects by the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA, and indeed all projects of the Federal, State and Local governments.”
“All poorly constructed roads should be photographed and reported immediately to the following contacts: 08030986263, 08037086137, or 08106423197; showing the name of the contractor, the location and type of contract, and defects observed.”
“The Federal Ministry of Works will document such reports, verify and take effective action to correct such infractions.”
An official of the Ministry of Works, Honourable Uchenna Orji who responded to the WhatsApp messages sent to him requested the details of the project which was provided.
Orji however did not provide further information on the contract saying it is outside the mandate of his office, promising to act on the information provided.
Following this development, Rockcity FM contacted an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Tairu Olarenwaju who valued the extent of work done on the road as of 23rd of November 2023 when he visited the project site for assessment.
Tairu submitted that after his evaluation, HMF Construction Limited has only spent N450 million on the project, out of N1.4 billion collected.
The Valuer however justified the payment of N39.4 million by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to Westgold Engineering and Development Consults Limited for Consultancy Services for Production of Engineering Design for the Dualisation of the Abeokuta-Ajebo road.
“The payment of N39.4 million to the contractor for production of engineering design for the Abeokuta-Ajebo road is still reasonable, what has however not been established was whether the contractor delivered it.”
Unanswered Questions Over Endless Dualisation of Abeokuta-Ajebo Road
Different communities and companies at Abeokuta-Ajebo Road are anticipatory of the completion of the road project.
However, the delay in the completion of the project is heightening fear within the communities in the area that the contractor might have abandoned the project.
They also spoke on the social and economic impacts of the road project on the lives of people and businesses in the area.
A trailer driver in his 50s expressed distress when a reporter from Rockcity F.M. informed some residents that contractors have received over N1.4 billion for the construction of the Abeokuta-Ajebo road.
Partly damaged drainage along Abeokuta-Ajebo road
The man, who chose to be identified as Eba kan’Oyomi, interjected, saying that he now finds himself frequently visiting the police station to settle a case of a fatal accident involving his truck. The unfortunate incident was a direct consequence of the dilapidated state of the road.
“There is no effective utilization of the money for this road. This Abeokuta-Ajebo road is supposed to be an express road but this is only on paper as it is now a damaged and condemned road. The deplorable condition of this road even led to my imprisonment.
“The deplorable state of this road has a toll on the health and concentration of truck drivers, sometimes leading to dizziness. It took us a long hour to traverse roads in Ogun State and sometimes we are held up in heavy traffic for 24 hours on the road.
“If anything happens, it is the driver that will be held responsible and the blame is always placed on the driver for reckless driving.
“The government and the contractors are not fair on us, this road has led to the death of many, and businesses along this area are finding it difficult to survive. This has resulted in numerous deaths and made survival difficult for businesses along the route.
“Businesses such as quarries, sawmills, and automobile repair workshops, which contribute taxes to the government, are suffering due to the bad state of this road,” the driver said.
The Chairman, of Automotor Spare Part Sellers Association at Kilometre 4 Ajebo Road, Alhaji Ahmed Akinlawon, woke up from his sleep to respond to questions on the construction of the Abeokuta-Ajebo road:
“The construction of Abeokuta-Ajebo road began in 2022, but it’s not well executed. Despite a massive mobilization of the contractor’s equipment to the site initially, they suddenly moved their equipment, leading to the perception that the road was now abandoned.
“The impact on the community has been significant. Flooding from that direction destroyed our workshops, compelling residents to mobilize funds to make the road passable. During the rainy season, businesses suffered, with flood damage to constructed drainages left unaddressed. The Minister of Works visited, raising hopes, but the construction stopped halfway.
Alhaji Ahmed Akinlawon, Chairman of Automotor Spare Part Sellers Association, Ogun State
When informed that the federal government has paid the contractor the sum of N1.4 billion for the dualisation of the road, Alhaji Hassan responded:
“We were not carried along on the construction of this road. They are not transparent in the way they spend their money. But the N1.4 billion should be enough to execute this road. Even if it cannot be completed it would have taken care of a substantial part of the job..especially completing both sides of the road.
On the socio-economic benefits, the chairman of the automotor spare part association emphasized increased patronage if the road is extended to Ajebo.
“The road is crucial for various communities, including mechanic villages, sawmill firms, quarry companies, and the School of Nursing. The plea is for the government to expedite action on completion, recognizing the taxes paid by the affected communities.”
Part of Abeokuta-Ajebo road constructed by the federal government in 2022
Kazeem EtoOlohuni, a resident of Abeokuta-Ajebo road, voiced his frustration, attributing his joblessness to the deplorable state of the road:
“The federal government should come to our rescue, or our anger may turn towards you as a journalist. I am jobless because it’s challenging to secure a menial job at a quarry due to the road’s poor condition. This frustration could escalate to criminal acts, even against you interviewing me.
“We have numerous quarry companies on this road, generating substantial revenue for both the Federal and State governments. It’s disheartening to see a revenue-generating road abandoned. The lack of development in this area is directly linked to the road’s deplorable state. Despite aggressive revenue collection by state and local government agents, no substantial work by the contractor is evident.
“The road poses dangers, especially at night, with heavy-duty vehicles, cars, and motorcycles competing for passage. We live in constant panic. The absence of noticeable progress by the contractor places a heavy financial burden on vehicle owners and drivers, impacting their ability to meet family needs.
“We appeal to the federal government to address this issue promptly, not just during elections when token gestures are used to deceive us. We are more enlightened now and won’t be easily deceived.
“The federal government should have conducted due diligence before awarding the contract. If favoritism and political patronage influenced the award, the current lack of results is the outcome. The Minister should personally monitor the project, experiencing the challenges, such as visiting the Kajola area during rain. Lives are at stake, with individuals from Obele facing life-threatening delays to reach FMC.”
In an interview, Olamilekan Samson, a local artisan whose business is situated near the road, expressed his initial optimism when news broke that the federal government had approved the construction of the road.
“This road serves as the economic gateway of Ogun State, with numerous quarry firms along its axis contributing to government revenue. However, it’s surprising that the road remained abandoned for an extended period.”
“Villages and communities along the route to Ogunmakin engage in high levels of farming activities, producing various agricultural products. Unfortunately, the deplorable state of the road deters many from using it, impacting both individual and state economic well-being.”
“During the rainy season, farmers, particularly women producing Garri and other farm products, face challenges transporting their produce to town. This contributes to the high cost of food due to the lack of a suitable road for transportation and sale, resulting in increased food prices.”
“I would appreciate it if the government expedites action on completing this road. While acknowledging their efforts, it’s evident that progress is slow, raising concerns about potential project abandonment. Construction began close to two years ago, yet substantial work is lacking, and there’s no clear indication of timely completion.”
“Currently, minimal work is being carried out on the road, with some equipment present, potentially indicating a temporary break. While construction companies have their ways, we believe that addressing any issues promptly is crucial.”
“The contractor, HMF, handling the Abeokuta-Ajebo road, is putting in the effort. Adequate mobilization could enhance their capacity to carry out the assigned work. Observing equipment at the site, I speculate that non-payment might be causing the delay, possibly due to a failure in government funding or considerations related to the rainy season.”
Elder Bayo Oriyomi, an 80-year-old man in the area also expressed concerns about the deplorable state of the road:
“I used to be a driver, but due to my old age, I can no longer drive. Constructing this road is a good initiative, as we have endured hardship for a long time due to its deplorable state. Unfortunately, the road has not lived up to its expected benefits.
“It is good to construct this road. It has been a long time since we have been facing hardship due to the deplorable state of this road. It has not been as beneficial as it was supposed to be.”
“May God change their mind to give the required attention to this road. The stretch from here to Ajebo leads to Ibadan (Oyo State), with the company’s yard close by, yet they have abandoned the road.”
“The contractor seems to have not justified the money given, bringing in equipment initially but later removing it. Only drainage work from Mechanic village to Iyana Timirin has been done, and the government must be intentional about completing this road construction.”
Elder Bayo Oriyomi Lamenting the Deplorable State of Abeokuta-Ajebo Road
Persons Behind Companies Handling Abeokuta-Ajebo Road Project
Further scrutiny of the Abeokuta-Ajebo contract shows that the member representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency between 2019 and 2023, Hon. Lanre Edun facilitated the project.
It was gathered that Hon. Edun influenced the appropriation of N2.3 billion in the 2021 (N480 million), 2022 (N850 million) and 2023 (N1 billion) budgets.
Rockcity FM investigation identified two companies that received contracts from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to execute the Abeokuta-Ajebo road.
Rockcity F.M. adopted the Open Source Investigation Technique to get the details of the companies behind the two companies.
The initial search of the public record of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) did not give the names of the directors of Westgold Engineering and Development Consultants Limited but further search indicated that Samuel Olusegun Owokoniran is listed as Person With Significant Control of the company.
According to the data sourced from CAC, the company was established on 2nd May 2012 with registration number 1030387 and office located in Abuja.
Between September 2018 to September 2023, Westgold Engineering received over N428 million worth of contracts from nine federal government agencies to execute different projects in some selected States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Westgold Engineering has a well-documented digital presence with a functional website and social media pages detailing and showcasing some of its construction works.
Rockcity F.M. was also able to track its address and contact details through this digital presence.
HMF Construction Limited which received a larger chunk of the contract sum of N1.4 billion for the dualisation of Abeokuta-Ajebo road, has six persons submitted to CAC as Persons of Substantial Control (PSC) of the company.
Between October 2018 to December 2023, HMF Construction Limited received over N11.4 billion worth of contracts from 12 federal government agencies to execute different projects in some selected States in Nigeria.
They include Prince Adeoye Adekemi Faizah, Prince Adeoye Halimah Adefunke, Prince Adeoye Muhammad Ademola, Prince Adeoye Fatimah Adeboyin, Hajiya Adeoye Halimah Sadiq Omolola, and Adeoye Idris Adegboyega.
HMF Construction Limited was established on 2nd September 2013 with registration number 1139153 and a registered office in Oyo State.
This story is published under the GovSpend Media Fellowship, supported by BudgIT, ICIR, and the MacArthur Foundation
This investigation received the input and support of:
- Dr Niran Malaolu – Mentor/Editor (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Tokunbo Oloruntola – Manager/Editor (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Femi Osinuga – Narrator/HOP (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Precious Ighalo Chima – Co-host (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Joshua Godspower Chidiebere – ICT/Graphics (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Wale Ogunbiyi – Audio editor (Rockcity 101.9 FM)
- Paschal Chiedozie – Mentor (ICIR)
- Iyanu Bolarinwa – Managing Editor/Coordinator (BudgIT)
- Michael Daramola – Ogun State Contributor (BudgIT/Tracka)
- Michael Pabiekun- Infographics (BudgIT)
- Oluwatimilehin Olugbemi – FOI request/Infographics coordination (BudgIT)
- Tairu Olarenwaju – Expert Valuer (Tohir Olarenwaju Properties)
