Sesan Olufowobi

The alleged award of landscaping and beautification of the Costain Roundabout Garden to a barbecue services company – Topmost Suya and Asun Enterprises – has been causing a buzz online with Nigerians calling for investigations into the award.

Many commentators on different platforms described the contract as a fraud, saying it was a reflection of the state of the country.

On lindaikeji.com one Hrm Paul, said, “What do you expect in a corrupt country; fictitious names of contractors. What a shame.”

Another poster, asampokoto, demanded explanations, saying there was more than meet the eyes in the award of the contract.

“There’s absolutely nothing funny about this. If anything, we should be asking questions. This is obviously a company that doesn’t exist; the contract was obviously awarded to a person who then subcontracted it after stealing his own bit,” he posted.

“Nigerian youths; this should actually cause some sort of investigations; read about what Diezani stole (with crony companies) and it doesn’t occur that the ‘Suya’ company is actually a front? May God help us,” a post under anonymous pseudonym said.

Another reader, Ifeanyi Ekwo, said, “Lolz…only in Naija! A company registered to provide barbecue services is given contract for landscaping and road beautification; he reissues the contract to a specialist who bills him for half the value of the contract. In the end, the cost of the contract is tripled…and tomorrow we go say how govt dey spend money sef #Accountability.”

A resident of the area, Jimoh Adewale, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said the residents had asked government officials why such job would be given to a suya firm, but were ignored.

He said, “We noticed the scandal, but as usual, government officials ignored us when we asked questions. Some of them that visited the site told us that it was not our business.

However, an official of the agency responsible for the contract, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, who declined to be named, said the project was an “adoption project.”

He said, “A man approached the agency and offered to beautify the place. He brought his design and a horticulturist when he was called for presentation. He was consequently given an approval.

“The man owned the suya and asun company. Nobody gave him the permission to place a signboard on the site as a contractor, or use the name of the Lagos State Government because there was no contract. He has been asked to remove the signboard.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, could not be reached for comment.

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