Kwara Govt Squanders N6.5Billion on Controversial Kwara Hotels Renovation In 3 Months, Lesser Amounts On Healthcare, Water Infrastructure

The renovation of Kwara Hotels has been embroiled in controversy, despite the government’s significant investment of N6.5 billion in the first quarter of the year, as stated in the state’s budget performance document.

The total budget for the project is a whopping N8.5 billion, with 76% of the allocated funds already utilised.

Critics argue that the project’s cost is excessive, with some claiming it’s a case of misplacement of priority amidst economic challenges. The opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, has called for a halt to the project, questioning the government’s intentions and demanding transparency.

SaharaReporters earlier reported the demolition of Crystal Mall, owned by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and Wakilin of Ilorin, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, which led to the resignation of Bar. Akeem Usman Mustapha (SAN) from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration.

Usman Akeem Mustapha is the brother of Mashood Mustapha. He was the Chairman of the State Education Trust Fund before his resignation.

The demolition exercise amid political disagreement between Mustapha and Governor Abdulrazaq.

This disagreement was also linked to a failed contract for the renovation of Kwara Hotels.

In December 2023, there was controversy around the renovation of the hotel after a letter from Hon. Salahudeen Lukman, a chairmanship candidate in the Offa Local Government Area accused the government of fraud.

The PDP chieftain noted that the government approved a budget of N71.2 million per room for the renovation of the hotel, describing it as corrupt.

Checks by SaharaReporters show that while the state spent N6.5 billion to renovate the hotel in three months, the total capital expenditure for the healthcare ministry of the state stood at N5.4 billion in the first six months of the 2024 fiscal year, while capital expenditure for tertiary education stood at N1.538 billion.

Only N102.1 million was spent on capital expenditure for the ministry of water resources.

The state spent N16.9 billion on its works ministry in six months. Therefore, the N6.5 billion spent on renovating Kwara Hotel in three months is 38.4% of the total capital expenditure for the works ministry in the state for the first six months of 2024.

Only N42 million was spent on provision of water facilities in the first six months of the year while nothing was recorded to have been spent to provide hospitals and health centres.