Akwa Ibom: Lacks Project Procurement Transparency Amid Tinubu Inaugurations

• President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to commission eight major projects in Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
• The Akwa Ibom government has not publicly disclosed contract sums or procurement records for these projects, despite billions in budgetary allocations.
• This non-disclosure raises questions about compliance with the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law, which mandates publishing such information.
• Key projects like the Airport-Okopedi Road and Ring Road 3 have received N49.5 billion and N49 billion respectively, without public access to their original contract details.
• The ARISE Palm Resort, a tourism initiative, also received substantial funding of N29.99 billion and N10 billion, but its procurement records are not publicly available.

The consistent lack of public disclosure regarding Akwa Ibom contract sums disclosure and procurement records for projects funded by billions of naira raises serious questions about public accountability and the integrity of government spending.

President Bola Tinubu is set to inaugurate eight significant projects in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, yet the Akwa Ibom government has not made public the contract sums or associated procurement records for these initiatives. Despite substantial budgetary allocations, concerns regarding the financial transparency and the state's adherence to public procurement legislation have overshadowed the upcoming inaugurations.

President Tinubu's itinerary for Friday includes a visit to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to formally open these projects, which were completed under the administration of Governor Umo Eno. Following this, he is scheduled to attend an All Progressives Congress political rally in neighboring Rivers State. The projects slated for commissioning encompass the Airport-Okopedi Road, Ring Road 3, the AKWA-GIS Office Complex, a Command and Control Centre, the ARISE Palm Resort, the International Terminal Building, the International Airport Hospital, and the Ibom Aviation Village.

A review of successive budget documents reveals that while many of these Governor Umo Eno projects received considerable allocations between 2023 and 2026, crucial details such as original contract sums, contractor identities, and comprehensive procurement records remain inaccessible to the public. This lack of Akwa Ibom contract sums disclosure directly contravenes the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law, which mandates the publication of procurement information on the state's designated electronic portal.

The absence of these vital records raises serious questions about the transparency of Akwa Ibom project procurement. The legal framework is clear on the requirement for public access to such data, ensuring accountability and fostering public trust. However, for these multi-billion naira projects, the state government has yet to fulfill this fundamental obligation.

Several projects highlight the scale of public investment without corresponding transparency. The 14.5-kilometre Airport-Okopedi Road, connecting communities in Nsit Atai and Okobo Local Government Areas, has a long history, originating under former Governor Godswill Akpabio and continuing through Udom Emmanuel's tenure. It has faced implementation challenges, including contract revocations. Under the current administration, the re-award of its first phase for dualisation received N3 billion in the 2023 revised budget, N8.5 billion in 2024, N23 billion in 2025, and an additional N15 billion in the 2026 budget, totaling N49.5 billion over four budget cycles.

Another major infrastructure project, the 7.868-kilometre dualisation of Ring Road 3, linking Idoro Road to Ikot Ekpene Road via Uyo and Ibiono Ibom, is being handled by Hensek Services. This project attracted N21 billion in the 2024 budget, N15 billion in 2025, and N13 billion in 2026, accumulating N49 billion in budgetary provisions. Despite these substantial figures, the original contract sum and publicly available procurement records detailing its award and execution are not available. Similarly, the ARISE Palm Resort, a key tourism initiative under Governor Eno's agenda, received N29.99 billion for construction in 2025 and N10 billion in 2026, with an additional N5 billion for erosion control facilities. The International Terminal Building at Victor Attah International Airport also saw significant allocations under the current administration, yet similar transparency issues persist, echoing prior concerns about other Ibom ARISE projects where contract sums and bidding records were not published on the state portal.

The consistent lack of public disclosure regarding Akwa Ibom contract sums disclosure and procurement records for projects funded by billions of naira raises serious questions about public accountability and the integrity of government spending. This situation underscores a potential risk environment for public sector contracts within the state, indicating a reported non-compliance with the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law.

For legal professionals and compliance officers, these findings necessitate enhanced due diligence when advising clients on engaging in or bidding for government projects in Akwa Ibom. The absence of readily accessible procurement records and contract details suggests a need for greater scrutiny to mitigate potential legal and reputational risks associated with opaque public contracting processes.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note the reported non-compliance with the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law, indicating potential risks and lack of transparency in public sector contracts within the state. This necessitates enhanced due diligence for any client engaging in or bidding for government projects in Akwa Ibom, particularly regarding contract disclosure and procurement record accessibility.

Source: Original reporting via PREMIUM TIMES