Accountability Project (SERAP)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has
sent a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Water
Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, urging him to “clarify the action
that his Ministry has taken to address and find the alleged
billions missing from the Ministry and its agencies, and if there
is relevant admissible evidence of corruption and mismanagement, to
refer the allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for
investigation and prosecution.”
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The organisation is also urging him to “ensure the full recovery
of any missing public funds, revealed in the 2017 annual audited
report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
In the FoI request dated 27 February 2021 and signed by SERAP
deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said:
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry and
its agencies can cause serious harm to the socially and
economically vulnerable. Satisfactorily addressing these
allegations and recovering any missing public funds is a critical
matter of public health, human rights, transparency and
accountability. The COVID-19 crisis makes this action all the more
urgent.”
SERAP said: “Knowing how the Ministry has responded to the
queries from the Auditor-General, and ensuring a thorough
investigation and prosecution of these allegations would end
impunity for corruption in the water sector, serve the public
interest, as well as help to improve access of Nigerians to clean
water and sanitation services.”
According to SERAP, “Millions of Nigerians continue to lack
access to an improved water source and access to proper sanitation.
Limited availability of water in public hospitals makes it
difficult for health professionals and the public to wash their
hands – restricting the ability of people to respond to
COVID-19.”
The letter, read in part: “According to the Auditor-General’s
Annual Report for 2017, Federal Ministry of Water Resources spent
₦343,957,350.60 without any documents. The Auditor-General is
concerned that the money may be missing. The Ministry also
reportedly spent ₦14,993,950.00 as advance cash to staff to buy
store items and for services without due process.”
“The Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New
Bussa, Niger State also reportedly spent ₦33,652,281.00 to train
170 unemployed youths and women between 10th and 11th November 2016
without due process and without any documents on the names and
number of those trained. There was no evidence to justify the
spending.”
“The Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi
reportedly ‘misapplied’ ₦42,277,285.50 meant for project monitoring
and supervision. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money
may ‘have been diverted for other purposes.’”
“The National Water Resources Institute, Mando Road, Kaduna
reportedly paid ₦84,401,940.74 to a contractor on 4th May 2017,
being 10% payment on the construction of a 2-story building for
UNESCO. But there was no existing contract between the Institute
and the contractor. The Institute also failed to show any documents
on how the money was spent.”
“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Abuja reportedly paid
₦24,800,000.00 to a staff in September 2016 to produce the 2016
annual flood outlook (AFO) by Agency, but without any documents of
the spending and evidence of the services performed. The Agency
also paid ₦31,439,300.00 to another staff in September 2016 to
organise sensitization workshops on 2016 flood
prediction/prevention but without any documents. The Agency has
also failed to retire the money.”
“We would be grateful if your Ministry would indicate the
measures being taken to address the allegations and to implement
the proposed recommendations, within 14 days of the receipt and/or
publication of this letter.”
“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being
taken in this direction, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall
take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to
implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to
promote transparency and accountability in the water sector.”
“SERAP is concerned that these allegations may have hampered the
ability of the Ministry and the agencies involved to meet the needs
of average citizens, as the missing public funds could have helped
to invest in the provision of access to clean water and sanitation
services for Nigerians, especially at a time of the COVID-19
pandemic.”
“Effectively addressing the allegations of corruption and
mismanagement in the Ministry of Water Resources and its agencies
and recovering any missing public funds would be entirely
consistent with Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as
amended], which imposes responsibility on public institutions and
officials to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office, and
the country’s international obligations.”
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the water sector
undermine public confidence in the sector, and obstruct the
attainment of commitments made through Sustainable Development
Goals, in particular Goal 6 which calls on states to ensure
availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for
all.”
“The Cross River Basin Development Authority, Calabar, Cross
River State reportedly paid ₦10,387,490.00 for a contract for
construction of Link Road between Cross River and Ebonyi State, but
without approval and any documents. The Authority also reportedly
spent ₦30,616,110.00 for construction of erosion control works at
Nguzu but failed to show any documents for the spending.”
“The Gurara Water Management Authority, Utako, Abuja also
reportedly failed to remit ₦27,449,153.50 deducted from contractors
as Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax, contrary to Financial
Regulation 234. The Authority reportedly paid ₦63,075,336.00 to
contractors but without any documents.”
“The Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State
reportedly failed to account for two Toyota Prado Jeeps which were
purchased in 2013 and 2014 with registration No. 45KOIFG for one
Jeep and none for the other. No reason was given for not
registering the second Prado Jeep. The Institute also failed to
account for another Toyota Hiace bus with registration No.
45KO3FG.”
“The Hadejia – Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Kano
State reportedly spent ₦204,893,978.09 without any documents. The
Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have ‘been
mismanaged.’”
“The Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo
State also reportedly spent ₦210,921,849.66 without any documents.
The Institute also spent ₦30,010,963.65 in 2017 without any
documents.”
“The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison
Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria paid ₦33,425,000.00 to a
contractor in March 2017 for National Extension Awareness Training
and Agricultural Extension Community Research. But there was no
evidence that the contract was executed. The Services also paid
₦60,435,515.00 as cash advance to a staff to buy store items
without due process.”
“The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research,
Victoria Island, Lagos State reportedly spent ₦18,022,931.74 to buy
store items in 2017 but without evidence of the items and without
any documents of the spending.”
The letter is copied to Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC), and Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Accountability Project (SERAP)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has
sent a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Water
Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, urging him to “clarify the action
that his Ministry has taken to address and find the alleged
billions missing from the Ministry and its agencies, and if there
is relevant admissible evidence of corruption and mismanagement, to
refer the allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for
investigation and prosecution.”
The organisation is also urging him to “ensure the full recovery
of any missing public funds, revealed in the 2017 annual audited
report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
In the FoI request dated 27 February 2021 and signed by SERAP
deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said:
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry and
its agencies can cause serious harm to the socially and
economically vulnerable. Satisfactorily addressing these
allegations and recovering any missing public funds is a critical
matter of public health, human rights, transparency and
accountability. The COVID-19 crisis makes this action all the more
urgent.”
SERAP said: “Knowing how the Ministry has responded to the
queries from the Auditor-General, and ensuring a thorough
investigation and prosecution of these allegations would end
impunity for corruption in the water sector, serve the public
interest, as well as help to improve access of Nigerians to clean
water and sanitation services.”
According to SERAP, “Millions of Nigerians continue to lack
access to an improved water source and access to proper sanitation.
Limited availability of water in public hospitals makes it
difficult for health professionals and the public to wash their
hands – restricting the ability of people to respond to
COVID-19.”
The letter, read in part: “According to the Auditor-General’s
Annual Report for 2017, Federal Ministry of Water Resources spent
₦343,957,350.60 without any documents. The Auditor-General is
concerned that the money may be missing. The Ministry also
reportedly spent ₦14,993,950.00 as advance cash to staff to buy
store items and for services without due process.”
“The Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New
Bussa, Niger State also reportedly spent ₦33,652,281.00 to train
170 unemployed youths and women between 10th and 11th November 2016
without due process and without any documents on the names and
number of those trained. There was no evidence to justify the
spending.”
“The Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi
reportedly ‘misapplied’ ₦42,277,285.50 meant for project monitoring
and supervision. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money
may ‘have been diverted for other purposes.’”
“The National Water Resources Institute, Mando Road, Kaduna
reportedly paid ₦84,401,940.74 to a contractor on 4th May 2017,
being 10% payment on the construction of a 2-story building for
UNESCO. But there was no existing contract between the Institute
and the contractor. The Institute also failed to show any documents
on how the money was spent.”
“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Abuja reportedly paid
₦24,800,000.00 to a staff in September 2016 to produce the 2016
annual flood outlook (AFO) by Agency, but without any documents of
the spending and evidence of the services performed. The Agency
also paid ₦31,439,300.00 to another staff in September 2016 to
organise sensitization workshops on 2016 flood
prediction/prevention but without any documents. The Agency has
also failed to retire the money.”
“We would be grateful if your Ministry would indicate the
measures being taken to address the allegations and to implement
the proposed recommendations, within 14 days of the receipt and/or
publication of this letter.”
“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being
taken in this direction, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall
take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to
implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to
promote transparency and accountability in the water sector.”
“SERAP is concerned that these allegations may have hampered the
ability of the Ministry and the agencies involved to meet the needs
of average citizens, as the missing public funds could have helped
to invest in the provision of access to clean water and sanitation
services for Nigerians, especially at a time of the COVID-19
pandemic.”
“Effectively addressing the allegations of corruption and
mismanagement in the Ministry of Water Resources and its agencies
and recovering any missing public funds would be entirely
consistent with Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as
amended], which imposes responsibility on public institutions and
officials to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office, and
the country’s international obligations.”
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the water sector
undermine public confidence in the sector, and obstruct the
attainment of commitments made through Sustainable Development
Goals, in particular Goal 6 which calls on states to ensure
availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for
all.”
“The Cross River Basin Development Authority, Calabar, Cross
River State reportedly paid ₦10,387,490.00 for a contract for
construction of Link Road between Cross River and Ebonyi State, but
without approval and any documents. The Authority also reportedly
spent ₦30,616,110.00 for construction of erosion control works at
Nguzu but failed to show any documents for the spending.”
“The Gurara Water Management Authority, Utako, Abuja also
reportedly failed to remit ₦27,449,153.50 deducted from contractors
as Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax, contrary to Financial
Regulation 234. The Authority reportedly paid ₦63,075,336.00 to
contractors but without any documents.”
“The Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State
reportedly failed to account for two Toyota Prado Jeeps which were
purchased in 2013 and 2014 with registration No. 45KOIFG for one
Jeep and none for the other. No reason was given for not
registering the second Prado Jeep. The Institute also failed to
account for another Toyota Hiace bus with registration No.
45KO3FG.”
“The Hadejia – Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Kano
State reportedly spent ₦204,893,978.09 without any documents. The
Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have ‘been
mismanaged.’”
“The Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo
State also reportedly spent ₦210,921,849.66 without any documents.
The Institute also spent ₦30,010,963.65 in 2017 without any
documents.”
“The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison
Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria paid ₦33,425,000.00 to a
contractor in March 2017 for National Extension Awareness Training
and Agricultural Extension Community Research. But there was no
evidence that the contract was executed. The Services also paid
₦60,435,515.00 as cash advance to a staff to buy store items
without due process.”
“The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research,
Victoria Island, Lagos State reportedly spent ₦18,022,931.74 to buy
store items in 2017 but without evidence of the items and without
any documents of the spending.”
The letter is copied to Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC), and Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).