EXCLUSIVE: Oyo Set To Lose Out Of $20m World Bank Project Over Irresponsibility

Agency Report

Oyo State is currently on course to be expelled from the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, a multi-million dollar World Bank project due to the ‘irresponsible’ actions of top officials of the Seyi Makinde led administration in the state, TrackNews Nigeria has exclusively gathered.

Designed to run for three years, the programme is an intervention that is built on the platforms of existing projects of the Federal Government which include National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP), Youth Employment and Social Support Operations (YESSO), Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), FADAMA, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, (GEEP).

Documents regarding the creation of the programme indicates that it is an emergency operation designed to support budgeted programme of expenditures and interventions at the State level by targeting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) affected by the economic
crisis.

On May 13, a sum of Four Hundred and Fifteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-six Thousand (N415,436,000) was credited into the newly opened Result Area 2 Fidelity Bank account from the consolidated account of Oyo State for the first six month budget cycle that was approved by the State-CARES steering committee (SCCU).

This fund was earmarked to be distributed to beneficiaries, those that were adversely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These beneficiaries are expected to be mined from the Farmers State registers.

The state received a five-man World Bank /Federal Team on technical mission support visit in preparation for the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) between 24th and 25th August, 2022.

However, the failure of officials in the state to execute the project and disburse funds appropriately was revealed when the state received a five-man World Bank /Federal Team on technical mission support visit in preparation for the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) between 24th and 25th August, 2022.

“The team was received by the Chairman, State Steering Committee who briefed them on the state of NARES in Oyo State. According to the team leader, Professor Okumadewa. The Chairman/Commissioner for finance told them he had issue with Result Area 2 level of achievement as being the delivery platform that got the highest allocation but with least achievement.

“While the team quickly observed that the delivery platform structure (Fadama) is not been utilized and this is hampering the implementation of the Result Area 2 in the state compared to other Delivery platforms in the state.

“No CARP has been funded to date and Assessors (Independent Verification Agent) are coming from Abuja in October to access our level of implementation. Since the Project is Programme for Result (PforR), Result Area 2 may not likely get any further
disbursement with pace of implementation,” details from the situation report on the visit revealed.

At its last meeting held between 4th – 7th September, the technical Mission of the project in the state frowned at the flagrant disobedience to the implementation manual of the Project. They noted that since the project based on a Program for Result (PFR) model, the state stands the risk of missing out on the next tranche.

They specifically identified the aide to the Oyo State Governor on Agribusiness, Debo Akande, as the official responsible for this underperformance because the Agric and Food Security subsection of the Project which he heads received the highest allocation of N415 Million yet recorded zero implementation.

“The Governor should investigate the activities of this Power drunk and self-acclaimed international man from damaging the reputation of the the state,” an official who claimed anonymity told this newspaper.”

Another official who did not want name in print explained that “N420m has been released. When the technical mission visited fortnight ago and complained about 0% performance, N200m has been spent on procurement of 250 bundles of cassava cuttings and 90 bags of fertilizer. The inputs were hurriedly distributed to 50 youths at Fasola government farm. This is ineligible expenses according to the project implementation manual. The world bank should note this and rise up to safe Oyo state.”