Borno: Some Contractors, Politicians Divert Solar Streetlights To Personal Use

Borno: Some contractors, politicians divert solar streetlights to personal use

By yerwa report

This investigative report sheds light on irregularities and corrupt practices in the implementation of the multi -million-naira solar streetlight projects aimed at enhancing security in the local communities of Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, and Shani in Borno State. It unravels the names of influential politicians who ignored the discrepancies in the contracts to the detriment of their constituents.

In Jaragol Village in Bayo Local Government Area of Borno State, Mallam Ibrahim Adamu stood watching his neighbours start their day at about 11 a.m. The cattle farmer had a mask of confusion on his face as he had suffered a major loss just days before Eid al-Adha, when his ram was stolen by thieves. For Ibrahim, who supports his wife and four children with the profits from his small business, the loss was devastating.

Adamu thinks the theft would not have occurred if their community had received the solar streetlight project designed to improve security. He stated that the solar streetlights in neighbouring communities discourage thieves, who cannot use the cover of darkness to operate.

This challenge, according to him, is not peculiar to Jaragol alone, as many other communities in Biu/Bayo/Kwaya Kusar and Shani Federal Constituencies face similar security issues due to inadequate electricity infrastructure.

In 2020, Hon. Aliyu Mukhtar Betara, House of Representative member representing Biu/Bayo/Kwaya Kusar and Shani Federal Constituency, facilitated a project to install 1,052 solar streetlights in some communities, including Gamadadi, Jaragol, Jaradali, Telli (wards in Bayo LGA), Wandali, Wawa, Gussi, Bula, Wada (wards in Kwaya Kusar LGA), Bargu, Gora and Walama (wards in Shani).

The project, worth N762, 301, 082.14k, was awarded to contractors in 2020 and 2021, and money released, as captured in the Open Treasury Portal, but investigations reveal several irregularities in its execution.

Investigation found that only 581 out of the 1,052 solar streetlights were actually installed, with the remaining 471 unaccounted for in the communities of Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, and Shani in Borno State. The investigation also revealed that some influential politicians were bribed with a few streetlights by the contractors to ensure their silence. The contract agreements with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development outlined that the scope of work involved the installation of several components, including 300W Polycrystalline Solar Panels, 115AH, 12V Lithium Battery, 12V, 60W high Bright LED Lamp, 12V/24V, 20/20A Charge Controller Phocos Germany, and 8.0M Galvanized poles.

In Bayo LGA, a report from the Open Treasury Portal revealed that Dunkulu Global Venture received a payment of N198,691,614.35 to supply and install 277 solar streetlights in several wards, including Telli, Gamadadi, Jaradali, and Jaragol. However, upon inspection, it was discovered that only 230 streetlights were installed, and the remaining 47 could not be accounted for – 10 in Gamadadi, 100 in Telli, 50 in Jaragol, and 70 in Jaradali, all amounting which is less than the contracted number of 277.