ENOCH OYEDIBU reports that a contractor, Obagold Investment Limited, received over N731, 489,968 from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), to build schools, construct boreholes and provide streetlights in some Lagos and Ogun States communities. Bizarrely, these projects were not executed.
… Community of Dreams and Challenges
The story begins with Odeda, a small community barely 20 kilometres from Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State.
The community, surrounded by dense vegetation, is situated along the Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway and hosts the secretariat of its namesake local government council. Odeda, with about 12 surrounding small communities, has only three not-so-good hospitals, a public school and one solar-powered borehole.
With a population of over 186,300, these basic needs are insufficient. Odeda Local Government Area, LGA, created out of Egba Division council in October 1955, has critical basic needs as much as its most prominent community, Odeda. In this community, water, hygiene and electricity are luxuries.
Matter-of-factly, unhygienic wells dug locally were the major sources of water supply until handpump boreholes replaced them barely decade ago in Odeda. Today, most handpump boreholes are no longer effective, leaving the community to return to their first sources of water – wells.Odeda still has few working handpump boreholes with the only one solar-powered borehole, constructed in July 2024 by the local government council.
But these handpump boreholes and a solar-powered borehole do not meet the water needs of the entire community.Thus, the people of Odeda were ecstatic last year when the federal government, through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), approved the installation of a solar powered borehole in the community.
But the joy of the people was misplaced. Investigations show that while over N50 million has been released for the borehole project, nothing has been done to execute it.Our investigation shows that the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs) has already disbursed of funds for the construction of solar-powered boreholes in Odeda.
The first payment of N31, 140,287 was made on May 26, 2023, to Obagold Investment Limited for the construction of two solar-powered boreholes in Odeda. The project was never executed.
Despite this, a payment
receipt from the GovSpend website shows that on March 26, 2024, the office of SSAP-SDGs headed by Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, paid another sum of N26, 527,723 to Obagold Investment Limited for another two solar-powered boreholes in Odeda. Surprisingly, the project was again not done. Visiting Odeda, the community members said borehole projects were last constructed in the community about 10 years ago. That is, except for the recent solar powered one installed by the local government council opposite its secretariat.
PLATFORM TIMES confirms the community has a few old handpump boreholes and a solar-powered borehole, indeed constructed by the Odẹda local government council in July 2024. Honourable Folashade Adeyemo, the chairperson of the council also confirmed this, reiterating on many occasions that no boreholes were constructed recently in Odeda community or the entire local government.
“The borehole out there was done by the Local Government authority itself,” Honourable Adeyemo said, referring to the only solar-powered borehole adjacent the council office. “No SSAP-SDGs project in Odeda,” she added. The traditional ruler of the community, Oba David Olorunnisola, also told PIJAlance similar statement, painting stark realities of the community’s dire needs.
However, the two payments made to Obagold Investment Limited for two solar-powered boreholes in Odeda, were just the beginning of several other payments to the contractor for projects that were either unexecuted or poorly executed.
Disbursing Public Funds for Previously Commissioned ProjectsFor another project, on April 4, 2024, the office of the SSAP-SDGS paid Obagold Investment Limited N26, 344,569 for the construction of two solar-powered boreholes in Magbon and Oke Ijemo, two communities in Abeokuta South LGA, Ogun State.
Consequently, as in the Odeda case, it was discovered that the SSAP-SDGS office had previously funded this project.For instance, the borehole of Oke-Ijemo was installed in 2022 as confirmed in a video by a former Federal House of Representatives who represented Odeda, Abeokuta North, and Obafemi Owode Local Governments, Mikky Kazzim.
Notably, between 2022 and 2023, Kazzim claimed to have sponsored solar-powered borehole projects at Oke-Ijemo and Magbon. Although these locations are outside his constituency, his intention appeared to be to bolster his re-election campaign under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to represent Abeokuta South in the 2023 election. When PIJAlance visited Oke-Ijemo, a solar-powered borehole constructed by Obagold Investment Limited was seen with Hon. Kazzim’s name as the sponsor, but with the SSAP-SDGs name displayed on it.
This borehole was actually completed in 2022, according to the video from Kazzim and residents at Oke-Ijemo. Yet, here is the twist: on May 26, 2023, following Hon. Kazzim’s defeat at the elections, the SSAP-SDGs office still disbursed a total of N31, 140,287 to Obagold Investment Limited for the construction of two solar-powered boreholes at Oke-Ijemo and Magbon. Contract documents showed that this payment covered the already completed Oke-Ijemo borehole and the yet-to-be-constructed borehole at Magbon. Despite this, on April 4, 2024, the SSAP-SDGs office made another payment of N26, 344,569 to Obagold Investment Limited, duplicating the same borehole project of May 26, 2023, in Oke-Ijemo and Magbon areas of Abeokuta South. Interestingly, payments made in 2023 and 2024 have not been realized as physical projects at the project sites, hitherto. The Nightmare of Darkness Continues Despite 40 StreetlightsOn March 26, 2024, the Office of SSAP-SDGs paid another sum of N40, 598,626 to Obagold Investment Limited for the installation of 40 solar-powered streetlights in Ifo, a rapidly growing metropolis in Ogun State, with boundaries to Lagos State, Just two days later, on March 28, 2024, another payment of N39, 516,854 was made to Obagold Investment Limited for the construction of three solar-powered boreholes at Cele 1, Showunmi Street, within Ifo LGA as stated in the contract document.
But both projects remain unexecuted. However, there is a troubling pattern: both initiatives are part of previously sponsored projects for which payments were made on May 26, 2023, by the SSAP-SDGs office. According to the approved bid documents obtained from the office through a FOIA request, these projects were also awarded to the same contractor, Obagold Investment Limited, in 2023 but at different amounts.
For example, N47, 657,800 was paid to the contractor for the construction of the 40 streetlights while N46, 581,431 was paid to the contractor for three solar-powered boreholes at Ifo LGA in 2023.Ifo LGA is surrounded by nearly 15 localities.
Sensing the importance, Engr. Taiwo Ibrahim, the Head of the Ifo Local Government Department of Public Works and Housing, expressed concerns about the ongoing issues related to these projects. In an interview via a WhatsApp call, Ibrahim told PIJAlance that projects like that do not exist in Ifo, saying “I don’t know, I am not aware. Such projects were not done in this year in Ifo. We’re not in the know of it,” he said.
Meanwhile the purportedly executed projects are highly needed in the local government and would go a long way in solving some of the people’s key challenges.For example, streetlights are badly needed at the Ifo Central Market. Chief Mrs. Taiwo Akinsola, the Iyaloja General of the market, expressed her frustration over the long-standing neglect that the market has experienced on the matter of streetlights and hygiene of the market.Mrs. Akinsola said that the last time Senator Solomon Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial district, sponsored projects, only six streetlights were provided for the entire market, which spans more than 5.5 kilometres. “Since then, nothing has been done, leaving a significant part of the market in complete darkness every night,” she stated.In a nutshell, the office of SSAP-SDGS approximately paid N80, 115,480 to Obagold Investment Limited for the installation of 40 streetlights and three solar-powered boreholes in the Ifo Local Government Area in 2024 and N94, 239,231 in 2023 over the same projects in Ifo. The total cost of both years amounts to N174, 354,711. Sadly, the projects that costs such significant amounts, were left undone while the people suffer.Funds Transferred, Projects Previously Paid for Again, Undone in LagosIn May 2023, the office of the SSAP-SDGs paid ₦57,951,825.02 to Obagold Investment Limited for the rehabilitation of gym centres for the training of young male & female athletes at 65 Olatiffe Street, off Lawson Road, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos. This was also a project that was left unexecuted, yet it was discovered that the SDG office had previously paid Obagold Investment Limited a sum of N68, 028,324 on May 25, 2022.Worthy of note, the gym centre project was inaccurately listed as being located at “65 Olatiffe Street, off Lawson Road.” In reality, the correct street name is Olatilewa Street, off Lawanson Road, and no gym centre was found at this location upon a visit.
This raises concerns about the payment of approximately N125, 980,149 between 2022 and 2023 for a project that cannot be visibly verified. In another bizarre case, in August 2023, the sum of N160, 377,402 was paid to Obagold Investment Limited for the demolition, construction and furnishing of one block of 18 classrooms with toilets at the Junior High School in Ajiran Community, Eti-Osa LGA in Lagos State.
This project had formerly received a payment of N186, 765,127 on May 25, 2022, also to Obagold Investment Limited. Documents received from the SSAP-SDGs office through an FOIA request revealed this.While the monies disbursed in 2022 and 2023 were intended for a junior secondary school in Ajiran Community, it is important to note that Ajiran Community School operates solely as a primary school, Mr. Ibrahim Akuruyejo serving as the headteacher, told PLATFORM TIMES.
Curiously, the school project was paid for in August 2023, but the structure was built over three years ago, Mr. Akuruyejo said.Interestingly, the “three years ago” mentioned by Mr. Akuruyejo is traceable to 2022. A payment receipt retrieved from GovSpend, a nonprofit platform that consolidates Federal Government expenditure, indicated that on August 16, 2022, another company, Lux Continental Limited, had been paid ₦120,203,103 as a “practical completion payment for the construction and furnishing of 6 classrooms block with 10 conventional Toilets at Ajiran community High School, Eti-Osa, Lagos state.”
Through a Google search of the school, Ajiran Community Primary School, the six classrooms sponsored by the Federal Government through the SSAP-SDGS at the school, two years ago, are visible. A former staff of the school, Mrs. Maurine Duru, said the school has constantly been helped with renovations by oil companies. While she could not give names of the oil companies, a quick check on social media found blocks of classrooms sponsored by Chevron for Ajiran Community Primary School in 2019.
Mrs. Duru also said that renovation was recently done in the school, but she does not know who did it since she already left the school. Meanwhile, it is worthy to note that as of August 6, 2024, when both Ajiran Community Primary School and Sangotedo Junior High School were visited, there was no 18 blocks of classroom constructed.
The gatekeepers at both schools testified that no construction of classrooms had been undertaken there. However, from that August 6, the contractor begins to play another game that changes everything forever.On the same August 6, 2024, the director of the construction company Obagold Investment Limited, Mr. Asomugha Kingsley, was contacted to ask about the progress of all projects contracted to him, including the school in Eti-osa LGA and why they were not done since 2023.Mr. Kingsley said, “Go to the locations of the projects, we’ve done them.” When questioned on the basis that no projects were done, he abruptly ended the call and has since then refused to take calls until the time of filing this report.After this encounter with the director of Obagold Investment Limited, on October 17, 2024, out of curiosity, the reporter again visited Ajiran Community Primary School and Sangotedo Junior High School.
A shocking discovery was made, revealing that between August 30 to September 15, 2024, there was a turn of event after the call and messages to Kingsley.New blocks of classrooms were already erected, bearing the emblem of the Office of SSAP-SDGs as the sponsor.
The gatemen of both schools said the construction was hurriedly done between August 29 to September 15, before the students’ resumption.Ajiran Community Primary School now has 12 new classrooms, all still unused, while Sangotedo Junior Secondary School has 10, all also unused. It was unclear whether the classrooms had been furnished as they remained locked by the time of the visit. It is easy to conclude that the call to the contractor in early August probably led to the hurriedly done work which still does not measure to the sizable award of 18 classrooms with toilet awarded. No toilets were constructed, despite what was indicated on the payment receipt.The building in Sangotedo Junior Secondary School has yet to be commissioned for use, like the ones in Ajiran Community Primary School, adding to the existing building constructed by Lux Continental Limited in 2022, laying unused.
Mr. Oni Isaac, one of the teachers at Sangotedo Junior Secondary School said he did not know if the classes are presently furnished but the new 10 classrooms building will be used for the Senior Secondary School students.In all, the SSAP-SDGs office paid approximately N347,142,529 to Obagold Investment Limited between 2022 and 2023 just to construct 18 blocks of classrooms at Ajiran Community Primary School in two places, making 36 classrooms going by the two separate payments made.12 classrooms were only hurriedly constructed in 2024.
Unmasking who is behind Obagold Investment LimitedObagold Investment Limited was registered on November 19, 2021, as a private company limited by shares “to carry on the business of training, consultancy services, general contract, and supplies of all kinds of goods and services.
” Despite this, the registration date of Obagold Investment Limited was barely seven months old by May 25, 2022, when the company received over N200m sum for contracts to construct a school building and rehabilitate a gym centre in Lagos, both of which remain unexecuted.
This seven-month-old company receiving contracts worth over N200m violates the provisions of Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act, PPA, 2007. Among the documents required for bidding, the law prioritizes a company’s three-year financial summary, which a seven-month-old company could not have obtained at the time it secured the contract.
Yet, the SSAP-SDGs office over three years paid hundreds of millions of public funds to Obagold Investment Limited for projects that were never executed.Details retrieved from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) show that Obagold Investment Limited has two directors – Kingsley Ebuka Asomugha and Onyinyechi Victoria Asomugha, who are also its shareholders.
The 38-year-old Mr. Asomugha owns 80% of the company, while the 28-year-old Ms. Asomugha owns 20%.Beyond speaking to Kingsley through a number obtained online, the reporter tries to dig further to identify him through desktop research. Online searches revealed that the email registered to Obagold Investment Limited appeared on Nairaland with seven posts between July 31, 2014, and September 13, 2021.
Interestingly, these posts suggest that the handler was a graduate of agricultural and environmental engineering and was seeking personal connections, employment, and a pastry chef.
The last post by the handler, later identified as Mr. Asomugha, on Nairaland was on September 13, 2021, just one month before Obagold Investment Limited was registered.
The post read: “I need a pastry chef based in Abuja. Must have 3 years’ experience. Applicant located around Dape, Impresit, New Karmo, or Idu Karmo has a higher advantage.
The name of the restaurant given by Asomugha in the post is Bites and Grills, a restaurant owned by Onyinyechi Asomugha, one of the directors of Obagold Investment Limited.Bites and Grills is located at the CAC-registered address of Obagold Investment Limited, suggesting a connection.
It is also likely that the company is jointly operated by Kingsley Asomugha, as his number was once used as a contact when the restaurant launched in December 2020. When the reporter visited the address at Karma not far from Abuja’s Idu train station, he found a gated residential estate. Security men at the gate, who refused the reporter entrance, said they were not aware of any restaurant in the estate.Aside from this link,
many details surrounding Obagold Investment Limited remain unclear and shrouded in secrecy.
For instance, its physical address is occupied by the restaurant owned by one of its directors. What is more, the address is in a gated residential estate.
‘The Allegations Lack Merit,’ Says Desmond Utomwen,
SSAP-SDGS Spokesperson When confronted with our findings, the spokesperson to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Desmond Utomwen, said all allegations against Obagold Investment Limited and the office lack merit.Utomwen, said this while reacting to PIJAlance’s findings on Tuesday, adding that the OSSAP-SDGs often “adheres to due process in awarding contracts.
”The spokesperson who took over 24 hours to respond after a telephone conversation where he promised to revert, waited for another phone call before he sent a short message on WhatsApp, disputing all our findings.Utomwen, said: “As I mentioned during our earlier conversation, further checks within the office confirm that the allegations are without merit.
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) strictly adheres to due process in awarding contracts.”Desmond Utomwen who had conversed with PIJAlance reporter on a telephone a day earlier, reiterated in his WhatsApp message that “all projects are executed to the highest standards before payments are made, and double payments are not entertained. Claims of unexecuted or repeated projects are unsubstantiated.”
Irrespective of Fundings, SDG initiatives in Nigeria Has Low ImpactA social analyst based in Osun State, Adedapo Emmanuel, while reacting to the findings by this reporter said that Nigeria’s funds on SDG initiatives have had low impact.Mr. Emmanuel said currently Nigeria still has over 80% of marginalised communities with women and children taking a larger chunk.He highlighted the harsh reality of over 100 million Nigerians trapped in poverty and the 20 million out-of-school children, showing how economic disparity perpetuates cycles of marginalization. Emmanuel argued that beyond the wealthy elite, most citizens struggle to access basic rights like education and dignified treatment.“Based on the situation of Nigeria, everyone is probably marginalized in Nigeria.
The peak of the marginalisation is the economic marginalisation which affects the out of school children, among others.“Over 80% of its populace languishes in the shadows of marginalization. Millions face daunting hardships, denied access to quality education and subjected to inhumane treatment due to economic fragility.
The alarming statistics are staggering – over 100 million trapped in poverty’s vicious cycle and more than 20 million out-of-school children.
“This grim landscape underscores the harsh truth: aside from the privileged elite, the majority are marginalized. Women, minorities, and dissenting voices face additional barriers, but economic marginalization remains the most pervasive affliction.”
*This investigation is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.
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