The attention of the Ekiti State Government has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters alleging irregularities in the award of land clearing and related contracts under the Youth in Agriculture Programme. We categorically reject the claims of wrongdoing, contract splitting, or any breach of due process.

Under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, all procurement activities of the State are conducted in strict compliance with the Ekiti State Public Procurement Law and established financial regulations. The insinuation that contracts were awarded arbitrarily to unqualified entities is misleading and does not reflect the rigorous evaluation processes in place.

For clarity:

1. Due Process and Competitive Bidding
   All contracts referenced in the report followed legally prescribed procurement procedures, including needs assessment, budgetary provision, and approvals by the appropriate authorities. Where applicable, competitive bidding processes were duly observed in line with the law.
2. On Newly Registered Companies
   The mere recency of a company’s registration does not disqualify it from participating in public procurement. What the law requires is demonstrable capacity, which includes technical partnerships, access to equipment, financial backing, and personnel. These criteria were duly assessed before any contract awards.
3. Allegation of Contract Splitting
   The claim of “contract splitting” is unfounded. The projects cited were structured based on location-specific needs, timelines, and operational logistics. Distinct project sites and scopes necessitated separate contracts to ensure efficiency, timely delivery, and effective supervision. This approach is consistent with best practices in project implementation and does not violate procurement regulations.
4. On Alleged Ownership Links Between Companies
   Government does not award contracts based on assumptions or speculative associations between company directors. Each registered entity is treated as a separate legal person under Nigerian law. All awarded companies met the requirements set out in the bidding documents and relevant laws.
5. Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
   The Ekiti State Government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and value for money. The Youth in Agriculture Programme has recorded measurable successes, including increased youth participation, expanded farm clusters, and improved productivity across the state.

It is worthy of note that the State has continued to receive recognition for transparency and fiscal accountability from reputable independent institutions including BudgIT Foundation, which ranked Ekiti among the top-performing states in fiscal transparency; the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) under its Subnational Audit Efficacy Index, where Ekiti was rated highly for public finance transparency; and GOMEP Nigeria through its Governance Accountability and Transparency Index, among other civic governance monitoring organisations. These consistent recognitions further underscore the State’s strong commitment to accountability, and responsible public financial management.

We therefore urge the public to disregard the sensational claims in the publication, which are based on conjecture rather than verified evidence. The government welcomes constructive scrutiny but will not be swayed by narratives that seek to undermine genuine development efforts.

We must also express concern over the pattern of reporting by Sahara Reporters, which in recent times has serially and, quite frankly, mischievously targeted the Ekiti State Government with weighty allegations without adequate efforts to verify facts or seek official clarification. Such a trend does not align with the core principles of responsible journalism.

We strongly advise the platform to desist from what can be described as “yellow journalism” and instead uphold professionalism, fairness, and factual accuracy in its reportage, especially on matters of public interest.

The Ekiti State Government remains open to constructive engagement with the media and encourages all stakeholders to seek clarification where necessary rather than promote unverified claims.

Should any individual or organization possess credible evidence of wrongdoing, we encourage them to present such to the appropriate statutory bodies for investigation.

Signed,
Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun
Commissioner for Information
Ekiti State