Lagos counters Doherty over controversial procurements, says N440m SUV “in tandem with current economic realities”

The Lagos state government has defended the purchase of N440 million for the purchase of a new Lexus LX 600 Bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicle for use in the pool of the Office of Chief of Staff.

Funsho Doherty, who contested in the 2023 gubernatorial, had on Sunday raised a red flag about the purchase saying the purchase “appears excessive and is out of tune with both the prevailing economic circumstances and mood of the people”.

In a post on X over the weekend, Doherty said, “I just wrote an open letter to the Governor on Public Procurement awards reported by LASG for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2023, highlighting a number of issues for further scrutiny and remedial action. Judicious use of public funds is always important, and is especially so now.”

Responding to the development, the Lagos state government said the purchase is “in tandem with current economic realities”.

Governor Sanwo-Olu had also released ₦20.8m for the decoration of the venue of political delegates’ congress.

Doherty had examined the procurement portal of the Lagos State Government and flagged some projects awarded for the second and third quarters of 2023.

In the letter drawing from Lagos State’s Public Procurement Agency (PPA) record, he noted that N18,468,000 was awarded to the office of the chief of staff for the “supply and distribution of 2,000 Noiler chicken across the local government areas and wards in the state”.

Another sum of N440,750,000 was awarded to the office of the chief of staff for the “procurement of a brand new Lexus LX 600 Bullet Proof Sport Utility Vehicle for use in the Pool of Office of Chief.

Among the items flagged is also the “Provision of Supply items (Rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridge in the office of the deputy governor” which was procured under the office of the deputy governor.”

The item was awarded to Judkom Enterprises in July, 2023 at the sum of N2bn( 2,017,840,000).

Also pointed out is the sum of N7,475,000 awarded for the “replacement of the liquid fragrance in the Office of Mr Governor, Lagos house, Ikeja.

“The office of deputy governor was awarded the sum of N30,000,000 for “monthly outreach of indigent citizens by the wife of the deputy governor.

“Another N30,000,000 was awarded for monthly empowerment programmes of the wife of the deputy governor.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor has denied receiving ₦2 billion for rechargeable fans, saying he only got ₦2 million.

In a memo addressed to the Director General of the state’s Public Procurement Agency, Hamzat said contrary to the ₦30m reported by the agency, his wife only received ₦2.5m each for her monthly outreach to indigents and empowerment programme in Lagos.

He maintained that the report by the agency was untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded.

Recall earlier in June 2023, Doherty had written to Sanwo-Olu over the rising debt profile of the State after it commenced implementation of its N1 trillion bond issuance programme.