THE Ford Motor Company has rehired more than 300 veteran quality inspectors and engineers to reverse manufacturing shortfalls after finding that its automated artificial intelligence systems could not replicate human experience.
The decision represents a change for the automaker, which had previously integrated automation across its manufacturing operations in an attempt to reduce production costs and maximise factory efficiency.
During an investor briefing during Ford’s quarter earnings call in October 2025, Ford’s Chief Operating Officer, Kumar Galhotra, stated that the firm was “deploying AI across the entire industrial system.” The strategy involved installing 900 automated cameras across various plants to detect assembly flaws at the source and minimise supply chain disruptions.
However, the technology failed to live up to internal expectations. Charles Poon, Ford’s Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering, stated that the company overestimated the tech’s standalone capabilities.
“Mistakenly, we thought that by just introducing artificial intelligence and ingesting the design requirements that we had, that would produce a high-quality product,” Poon admitted.
He noted that the automated tools lacked the practical training and nuance of experienced staff, adding that “artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it’s only as good as the information you use to train it.”
According to reports, many of Ford’s most knowledgeable engineers had left the company before their technical insights could be incorporated into the machine learning models.
The returning specialists are now tasked with identifying potential quality issues before vehicles enter production, mentoring younger factory employees, and calibrating the automated systems.
This pivot to human oversight coincides with Ford securing the number one spot among mainstream US automakers in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, a ranking the company has not held since 2010.
In an official statement addressing the quality milestone, the company noted that achieving best-in-class quality required a significant talent refresh. This initiative involved restructuring senior leadership across its engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain divisions, alongside hiring the 300 veteran engineers who hold decades of hands-on design experience.
THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday admitted the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, to a N200 million bail with two sureties.
One of the court’s justices, Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Sowore’s application for stay of execution of the order for his bail revocation, directed that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community.
Umar held that the surety must have a landed property in Abuja.
The judge, who held that the sureties must also be verified by the prosecution, the State Security Service (SSS), ordered Sowore to also deposit his international passport with deputy chief registrar of the court.
The judge then handed over the defendant to his lawyers and adjourned the matter until July 6 for Sowore to open his defence.
Umar earlier vacated the defendant’s bail revocation order and the earlier order remanding him in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar had, on June 22, ordered the remand of Sowore, also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge, in a short ruling, ordered Sowore to be kept in the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion for stay of the order for revocation of his bail and bench warrant filed by his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a senior advocate.
The judge equally dismissed Sowore’s earlier application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on the ground of alleged bias.
He adjourned the matter till June 24 for hearing of the application for stay of execution.
After Sowore’s application was moved and argued on June 24, Umar fixed today for a ruling.
He ordered the defendant to remain in custody pending the ruling.
The judge had, on June 16, revoked a bail granted to Sowore following his failure to appear in court for his trial.
Umar, in a ruling on an oral application made by the lawyer to the prosecutor, the SSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, a senior advocate, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The SSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his X and Facebook accounts. (NAN)
THE Niger Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, has confirmed the arrest of a police officer serving with the Niger Police Command for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.
Hajiya Kuta disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in her office in Minna on Monday.
She said two other suspects were also arrested for allegedly raping the girl.
According to her, the victim was repeatedly raped by the three suspects before the matter was reported to the ministry.
The commissioner explained that the victim’s parents reported the case to the ministry for intervention, which led to the suspects’ arrest.
“The parents told the ministry that their efforts to seek justice were consistently obstructed, which prompted them to seek the ministry’s assistance,” she said.
Kuta expressed concern over the rising cases of rape involving minors and teenagers.
She lamented that attempts were being made to divert attention from the rape allegations by accusing the victim of stealing livestock.
According to the commissioner, the suspects took advantage of the girl after buying chickens from her.
She stressed the dangers of street hawking, especially for girls.
The commissioner also lamented that the individuals accused of rape were often granted bail shortly after arraignment.
She said such practices deny victims and their families justice and embolden perpetrators to continue the act.
“It is distressing to observe that cases of this nature frequently cause significant psychological trauma, undermining the educational aspirations of young girls.
“The future of these children can be irreparably damaged by the actions of the perpetrators,” she stated.
She assured the victim’s family that the ministry would pursue justice on their behalf.
“As part of its intervention, the ministry has relocated the victim from her community to ensure her safety and has placed her under protective custody,” she revealed.
Kuta said the girl would receive comprehensive medical care, psychological evaluation, counselling, and other support services to assess the physical and emotional impact of the abuse and aid her recovery.
She stressed the need for a thorough investigation, noting that the charges filed against the suspects would determine the strength of the prosecution’s case in court.
“The ministry hopes justice will prevail and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of the victims,” she noted.
According to findings by the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s 2018 global poll, Nigeria ranked among the most dangerous places in the world for women, largely due to the prevalence of sexual violence, cultural stigma, and weak enforcement of protective laws.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics also suggests that sexual offences remain widespread, though significantly under-reported, with many survivors never formally reporting cases to authorities.
In many communities, incidents are further compounded by silence, fear of stigma, and limited access to justice, leaving survivors to navigate trauma without institutional support.
The ICIR reports that in Nigeria, six out of every 10 children suffer from one or more forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence before clocking 18. More than 70 per cent of children experience this violence repeatedly, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the approval on Monday, June 29, describing it as a landmark decision aimed at repositioning the NYSC to meet the demands of a rapidly changing Nigerian economy.
According to the minister, the reforms will transform the scheme into a “skills-driven, productivity-focused and youth-empowering institution” that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
“For over five decades, the NYSC has remained a powerful symbol of national unity and service. Today, we have taken a bold step to preserve that legacy while preparing it for the future,” Olawande said.
He explained that the reforms would equip corps members with practical skills, career opportunities and experiences needed to thrive in an evolving labour market.
Among the key changes approved by the council is the introduction of a technology-driven call-up process designed to improve efficiency and transparency.
The reforms also provide for risk-sensitive deployment of corps members to enhance their safety, a redesigned six-week orientation programme with greater emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams, as well as skills-based primary assignments aligned with participants’ academic qualifications and career aspirations.
In addition, the government approved a new governance structure that places the scheme under civilian operational leadership while retaining military support for security during orientation exercises.
The reforms further include the introduction of a national grading and certification system to improve camp standards across the country, alongside a new graduation ceremony that will replace the traditional Passing Out Parade. Corps members will also receive redesigned NYSC uniforms intended to reflect professionalism and national pride.
The minister said the reform process began in 2025 through consultations involving the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
He added that FEC has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to commence amendments to the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework required for implementing the reforms.
Describing the decision as an investment in Nigeria’s youth, the minister said the changes would make the NYSC more relevant and impactful.
“This is more than a reform of an institution. It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset, our young people. The future of the NYSC begins now, and it is brighter, more relevant and more impactful than ever,” he said.
The NYSC was established by Decree No. 24 of 1973 in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War to foster national unity, reconciliation and integration among young graduates.
The one-year mandatory national service scheme requires graduates of universities and other eligible tertiary institutions below the age of 30 to serve in states outside their regions of origin.
The programme currently comprises a three-week orientation camp, a primary place of assignment, community development service and a passing-out exercise at the end of the service year.
Over the years, the scheme has become one of Nigeria’s most enduring national institutions.
It has also faced growing criticism over the safety of corps members, inadequate welfare, deployment challenges and concerns that its operations no longer reflect the country’s changing economic and security realities.
The new reform by the Tinubu government may have put an end to calls by many Nigerians that the scheme has outlived its usefulness and should consequently be scrapped.
TRANSPARENCY International (TI) is inviting young journalists worldwide who are passionate about fighting corruption to apply for its 2026 programme.
TI has 10 places available for journalists in the early stages of their professional career to join its International Anti-Corruption Conference in the Dominican Republic from 1-4 December 2026.
As part of a mentored programme, participants will have the chance to join the conference discussions, interview leaders and activists, and build their knowledge of the latest trends in the anti-corruption space.
Participants must be proficient in English, under 35 years old, and be prepared to develop at least one report and to secure coverage in a media outlet after the event.
The organisers say, “We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and where there is equality of opportunity. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and therefore welcome applications from qualified candidates of all regions, countries, cultures and backgrounds.
“Selection to the young journalist programme is made on a competitive basis, and we do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, colour or ethnic background, religious belief, sex, gender identity and expression or sexual orientation, marital or family status, age or ability. We kindly ask applicants to refrain from including in their application information relating to the above, as well as from attaching photos.
The deadline for applications is July 15, 2026. Interested applicants can apply here.
A FRESH controversy has emerged over the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) after the council received a N1.3 billion allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency insisting that the council does not exist.
On June 11, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, publicly described the organisation as a non-existent entity and warned the public against dealing with individuals claiming to represent it.
“It has come to the notice of the Federal Government of Nigeria and specifically the Office of the Chief of Staff… that a certain Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, under the auspices of an alleged organisation styled as the ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’ is portraying himself to the general public as having been appointed by my office,” Gbajabiamila said in a statement.
The Chief of Staff stated that no such office exists under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and that no appointment had been made in! that regard. He urged foreign missions, development partners, financial institutions and the public to disregard any claims linking the council to the Presidency.
However, documents reviewed by TheCable in the 2026 Appropriation Act paint a different picture.
The 2026 Federal Government’s budget expressly lists the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council under the Presidency, with a total allocation of N1,302,978,784.
A breakdown of the allocation shows that N802,978,783 was earmarked for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overhead expenses, while N300 million was budgeted for capital projects.
The allocation raises questions over how a council publicly disowned by the Presidency came to be captured in the nation’s approved budget with provisions for salaries, operations and capital expenditure.
The controversy deepened on Thursday when Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to head the council, challenged Gbajabiamila’s position during a press conference in Abuja.
Adeyemi described the Chief of Staff’s statement as inconsistent with existing government records.
According to him, the council maintains accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), occupies office space at the Federal Secretariat, and received approval for more than 300 personnel from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
He argued that the existence of such official records would be difficult to reconcile with the Presidency’s assertion that the council had no legal or administrative existence.
Adeyemi called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine all government records relating to the council and determine how it came to appear in official federal documents, including the national budget.
The conflicting positions have raised concerns over the integrity of government records and the budget preparation process.
As of press time, neither the Presidency nor the Budget Office had publicly explained why the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council appears in the approved 2026 budget despite the official denial of its existence.
The development is likely to intensify scrutiny of the 2026 federal budget and may prompt demands for a comprehensive investigation into the council’s legal status, funding history and the officials responsible for its inclusion in the national appropriation.
A similar report by The ICIR in 2020 showed how the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President (OCEAP) got approval for the sum of N573.45 million as capital allocations in five years without a clear identity of presidential appointee answerable to the fund’s utilisation.
THE Borno State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of an unspecified number of students sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination after suspected terrorists attacked a secondary school in Lassa community, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state on Monday, June 29.
The command said it had deployed security operatives to the area, where they are currently combing nearby forests in a bid to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the attackers.
The spokesperson for the command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the attack occurred at about 9 a.m. when suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and opened fire.
“Around 9 a.m. this morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted,” Daso said.
He added that security forces engaged the attackers during the assault, preventing what could have been a larger-scale abduction.
“Security forces confronted them. For now, we have an unspecified number of students who were abducted. The CP (commissioner of police) has deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba. They are currently combing the bush,” he said.
The latest attack comes about six weeks after suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted 42 pupils and students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, also in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
On May 15, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School and surrounding communities in the LGA, abducted 42 students and teachers.
Similarly, in Oyo, on the same day, gunmen launched coordinated raids on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area, whisked away 39 pupils and seven teachers. The attackers reportedly killed at least one teacher during the operation before marching the victims into the forest.
More than 40 days after the incident, the victims remain in captivity despite repeated assurances from authorities that rescue efforts were underway.
Since then, relatives in both states have endured weeks of uncertainty, with many saying they have received little information about the condition of their loved ones. Parents, community leaders and civil society groups have repeatedly appealed to authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
The union later staged protests in Oyo, Maiduguri and other parts of the country, demanding urgent government action to secure the release of the captives, as frustration mounted among residents of the affected communities.
The renewed attack also comes despite repeated assurances by President Bola Tinubu that his administration is prioritising security. In his June 12 Democracy Day address, the president acknowledged the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Borno and Oyo states, describing the incidents as a source of national concern.
“We remain hopeful for their safe return,” Tinubu said, adding that the Federal Government had declared a security emergency, approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, and allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget.
The ICIR reports that the latest assault shows the persistent insecurity confronting communities in many parts of the country, where schools have repeatedly come under attack more than a decade after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction drew global attention to the vulnerability of educational institutions in Nigeria’s North-East.
BORNO State has commenced the documentation process for 1,066 newly recruited teachers following the release of the list of successful candidates for employment into the Borno State Senior Secondary School Education Board (BSSEB).
The development follows the completion of the recruitment exercise, including the competency test conducted on April 11.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Board Secretary, Malah Abatcha, on Monday in Maiduguri.
It directed all successful candidates to report to the BSSEB headquarters between June 29 and July 11, for documentation and verification before assuming duty.
According to the statement, the recruitment exercise was designed to address the shortage of teachers in public secondary schools across the state and improve the quality of education.
It explained that the selection and deployment of successful candidates were based on staffing requirements identified through school-specific needs assessments, with priority given to qualified personnel from the local communities where the schools are located.
The board stressed that appointments and postings were made strictly according to the schools indicated on the list, warning that requests for transfers from assigned duty stations would not be considered.
It added that candidates unwilling to serve in their designated schools should decline the offer.
The statement noted that acceptance of the appointment signifies readiness to work in the assigned locations.
The board congratulated the successful applicants and expressed optimism that the newly recruited teachers would strengthen the education sector by filling critical vacancies, particularly in underserved local government areas across the State.
UNITED States (US) Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, told migrants in the US on temporary protected status to seek permanent residence or leave for their home countries.
The remark follows Supreme Court decision that allowed the administration to strip thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants of a humanitarian status that protects them from deportation to home countries plagued by conflict and destitution.
“Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status or we’ll help you get back to your country,” Mullin said.
“We’ll actually give you a plane ticket, plus roughly 2,100 million dollars to help you re-establish when you get there, but temporary protective status, according to the courts and in its name itself, is not permanent status,” he added.
Federal law allows the administration to grant temporary legal residency in the US to people fleeing war, disaster or other adverse conditions.
The status had previously been renewed successively and, despite the move to end these protections, the State Department currently warns against travelling to either Haiti or Syria, citing widespread violence, crime, terrorism and kidnapping.
The US first provided TPS to Haitians after a devastating earthquake in 2010, and to Syrians after their country descended into civil war in 2012.
The prospect of large-scale deportations faces opposition, even among some Republicans.
However, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said it was not safe for Haitians to return and that the removal of diligent workers would hurt the Ohio economy and leave the healthcare industry short-staffed.
During the 2024 election, President Donald Trump falsely accused Haitians living in Ohio of eating others’ household pets. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority found, however, that Haitians suing the administration were unlikely to succeed in their argument that the administration’s actions were racially biased.
The presence of Haitians in the state has helped spur economic revival in some Ohio areas that had fallen into post-industrial decline, boosting wages and job creation, Reuters reported.
“It’s Haitians who many times are taking care of your mom or your dad who has Alzheimer’s, taking care of family members who might be in a nursing home,” said DeWine.
“And to say we’re going to pull all those out, it’s just not in our own self-interest.’’ (Reuters/NAN)
This ICIR investigation uncovers troubling irregularities in Ebonyi State’s 2024 contract awards for the construction of 12‑classroom storey buildings in secondary schools across the state. It exposes both the absence of competitive bidding and the use of ‘front companies’ to secure contracts.
By Olanrewaju Oyedeji
In 2024, the Ebonyi State Government awarded billions of naira worth of contracts for the construction of 12-classroom storey buildings in secondary schools across the state. The contracts, according to details on the state Open Contracting Portal, numbered 35, with each awarded at the cost of N172 million, totalling N6.020 billion.
This came after the state budget and fiscal documents revealed that, in the same year, the government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, spent N1.8 billion on a 39-classroom project for three schools in each local government area.
Just like the primary schools, findings reveal that many of the contracts for the secondary schools were awarded in three schools per local government. Available data on the state OCDS portal revealed that the contracts awarded for secondary school construction marked the first time since 2020 that the state had undertaken mass contract awards targeting secondary schools.
However, this investigation raises red flags over the absence of a competitive process in contract awards and the use of ‘front companies’ by winning bidders, which puts the transparency of the contractual process and eventual execution into question.
It traced some of the beneficiary companies to politically exposed persons, including individuals within Governor Francis Nwifuru’s current administration, raising further concerns about accountability and the neutrality of the award process.
The benefiting companies
Checks on the Open Contracting Portal show that the Ebonyi State Government awarded contracts for the construction of 35 twelve-classroom storeys to different companies. This investigation scrutinised 10 of those firms.
The companies are Global Today Engineering Services Limited, which was awarded the contract for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building in Ishiagu High School of Ivo local government area; Senior Kendo Ventureswhich was awarded a contract for the construction of 12-classroom storey building in Community Secondary School Ndiuruku, Abakaliki LGA; Integrated Simap, awarded a contract to build a 12-classroom storey at the Government Secondary School, Okposi, Ohaozara LGA; HC Carters Ventures, awarded for the construction of 12-classroom storey buildings in the Community Secondary School Ojiegbe Nkaliki, Ebonyi LGA and GroundFox Design and Construction Nigeria Limited, awarded a contract for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building in Community Secondary School, Nwofe Agbaja, Izzi LGA.
Others are BMG Space Solution Limited for the construction of a 12-classroom storey at Community Secondary School Enyigwe Ezza Inyime, in Izzi LGA, Limited, Esonas Investment awarded to build a school at Akpe Amachi, Abakaliki LGA, Gorrion Engineering, awarded for the construction a 12-classroom storey building at Community Secondary School in Izzo, Ezza North LGA and Onye-Andrew Project Limited for the construction of a school at Kpakpaji High, Ezzama, while Uzochukwu Top Class Limited, awarded for the construction of the Community Secondary School Ohaoffia Agba, Ishielu LGA.
Suspicious fronts
The Open Contracting Portal of the Ebonyi State Government listed Global Today Engineering Services Limited as the sole bidder and as the winner of the contract for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building at Ishiagu High School, Ishiagu, Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State. The contract was valued at N172 million. Being a sole bidder suggests the process was not subject to open competitive bidding, which prioritises fairness and transparency.
Contract details of Global Today Engineering Services Limited
Investigation shows that the company is owned by James Aroh Nweke, who is a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), a former Local Government Chairman, and a state Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Poverty Eradication.
According to details on the OCDS portal, the company occupies two addresses at “No 14 Olisaemeka Street” and “No. 18 Udensi Street,” both in Ebonyi State. When this reporter visited the first address at No 14 Olisaemeka Street, he saw a shop-like space. Upon enquiry about the office of ‘Global Today Engineering,’ a young lady directed him to her boss at a partitioned office. Soon after the reporter introduced himself and enquired about the company, the man’s smile dimmed as he queried how the reporter knew about the existence of the company.
Number 18, Udensi Street, Ebonyi State
Posing as a researcher compiling names of companies in the state, the reporter told him he had stumbled on the company name. However, after much probing, the man revealed that No 14 Olisaemeka Street was not the office of Global Today Engineering but rather a contact place used as afront.
“I know him; this place is my own office, but if you have anything for him, we will deliver it to him. I know him, he is my friend, we are surprised that the existence of the company is known, that’s why I questioned you when you came in,” the man insisted.
For a company that won a N172 million contract for school construction and another N400 million for the construction of a two-kilometre road in Ivo LGA, one would expect the company to naturally want visibility.
An attempt by this reporter to trace the second address listed as No. 18 Udensi Street also ended in opacity, as the location contained abandoned old shops. Residents opposite the building noted that the building housing the street number was not in use.
Information from the Ebonyi State OCDS portal listed the office of Senior Kendo Ventures, another sole bidder for a N172 million contract at No. 2, Ziks Avenue. The company won the contract to construct a 12-classroom storey building at Community Secondary School, Ndiuruku Amagu, Abakaliki LGA.
Senior Kendo listed office address
This reporter traced Ziks Avenue, following directions from small businesses in the area. When he located the shop, there was confusion when it was suggested that Senior Kendo Ventures sold mattresses.
He found only mattresses with no trace of construction equipment. This is contrary to the provisions of the Ebonyi State Open Contracting law, which places a premium on the professional and technical capacity of companies that win a contract from the government. A man found at the shop confirmed that Senior Kendo Ventures only deals in mattresses.
Like the first two companies, this reporter found that Integrated Simap, another company which also won a contract worth N172 million to build a 12-classroom storey building at Government Secondary School, Okposi, Ohaozara LGA, had a fake address. The company’s address listed on the OCDS portal as ‘Number 18, Ikenga Street, Abakaliki,’ happened to be a residential building.
The only business seen on the address was a shop that sells provisions, snacks and sweets. When enquiries were made about the presence of a company, residents noted that the building was residential and that they had no knowledge of any construction company in the area.
A side by side listed address of Integrated Simap and the physical address
This reporter also traced the address of GroundFox Design and Construction Nigeria Limited, which was listed on the OCDS platform as ‘No 1, Ejiofor Ernest Street, Ugwachara’, Ebonyi LGA. The company had equally won a contract for the construction of a 12-classroom storey building in Community Secondary School, Nwofe Agbaja, Izzi LGA.
The company, registered with the CAC on September 29, 2023, was awarded a contract for the construction of a school in February 2024, barely five months after registering with the CAC.
When this reporter visited Ugwachara, Ejiofor Ernest Street could not be located. Residents and motorcyclists denied knowledge of the street, making it impossible to verify the existence of the company address.
This reporter therefore called the contact phone number listed on the OCDS portal as the contact of the company, but the person on the line failed to comment on the inability to locate the company. He also did not affirm the stated address on the portal as the company’s location. Instead, the respondent declined to answer enquiries, failing to provide clarifications on the findings.
Politically exposed persons
Apart from the inability to trace some of the companies that benefited from the multimillion-naira contracts without competitive bidding, this investigation found that some of the companies that were awarded the contracts are linked to politically exposed persons in the state.
For instance, HC Carters Ventures, which was also awarded a N172 million contract as a sole bidder for the construction of 12-classroom storey buildings in the Community Secondary School, Ojiegbe Nkaliki, Ebonyi LGA, is owned by Nwode Chidi Henry, a younger brother of the first lady of Ebonyi State, Mary-Maudlin Nwifuru, based on the Corporate Affairs Commission beneficiary ownership register.
Beneficial Ownership Data of HC Carter Ventures on CAC Portal
As of the time of this report, Nwode Chidi Henry is a local government chairmanship aspirant for Ikwo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State under the APC.
The government had also awarded a N172 million contract to Onye-Andrew Project Limited as the sole bidder for school construction at Kpakpaji High, Ezzama, Ezza South Local Government Area. Registered with the CAC in October 2023, the company was awarded a contract for school construction in June, 2024, barely nine months after incorporation. However, at the time of the advertisement in February 2024, it was barely six months old.
Onye Andrew Limited Contract Details as published on Ebonyi OCDS Portal
The address of the company was listed as number ‘24, Udi Street in Ebonyi State’ even though no such company existed on the street at the time this reporter visited.
Interestingly, checks on the CAC beneficiary ownership register listed Odunwa Onyedikachi Andrew, a director of the company. Andrew is also a relative of the sitting Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Moses Ije Odunwa.
He is also listed as a director and owner of Uzochukwu Top Class Limited, which was registered in July 2023 and won the N172 million contract without competitive bidding, according to details on the Ebonyi State open contracting portal. As of March 2024,when the tender for the construction of the Community Secondary School Ohaoffia Agba in Ishielu LGA ended, it was nine months old.
Uzochukwu Top Class Limited beneficiary ownership details published by the CAC and contract details as published on Ebnoyi OCDS Portal
Within the same period, BMG Space Solution Limited also won a N172 million contract to construct a 12-classroom storey at Community Secondary School Enyigwe Ezza Inyime, Izzi LGA. Investigations reveal that the company is owned by Ofoke Rosemary Nwogbaga, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State governor on Industry, and also the wife of the APC Secretary in Ebonyi State.
The company was listed as the sole bidder and winner for the contract, in violation of the State Contracting law, which emphasised the need for competitive bidding. Its address was listed on the Ebonyi State Open Contracting Portal as “17 Chukwuma Ofoke Street, Abakaliki,” in Ebonyi State.
This reporter visited the location but found that the address houses a school named ‘Liberal Arts and Science Academy.’ Although beneficial ownership checks show the school belongs to the Ofoke family, the existence of BMG Space Solution Limited was not verified during this process. When the organisation’s listed contact was reached, the company official who responded acknowledged that the address is occupied by Liberal Arts and Science Academy but insisted that the space is shared with BMG.
“We are on that address too, if you notice well, the building is big, so the company is on the address for now.” This reporter observed that at the time of the visit, there was signage for the school, but none to show the presence of BMG Space Ventures.
This reporter also found that Nwovu Benneth Alo, a special assistant to the governor, was listed as a director of Esonas Investment Limited, which won a N172 million contract as a sole bidder to build a school at Akpe Amachi, Abakaliki LGA. Checks on the beneficial ownership register show that ‘Nwovu Benneth Alo’ was listed as a director of the company.
Alo is a Special Assistant to the state governor on road maintenance. His appointment was publicly celebrated by Leo Okene Oketa, who is the Special Assistant to Governor Nwifuru on New Media.
During this investigation, while mass contract awards suffered from ‘lack of competitive process’ and other contract anomalies, the state of schools visited raised more questions.
One of the schools listed to benefit from the project is Community Secondary School in Izzo, Ezza North area of Ebonyi State.
Gorrion Engineering was listed as the sole bidder and winner of a N172 million contract to construct a 12-classroom storey building. During a visit to the school, this reporter saw some uncompleted building projects on the site. Because there was no signpost or description, it was not clear if it was the same project awarded by the government.
An alumnus of the school, Chukwudi Peter, who spoke to this reporter, noted that the community school, situated just opposite Ezza North local government secretariat, gives hope to the community.
The building at Ozzo High School and the current state of the School
“This school serves many students, although the current buildings in use are not in good shape, but we are seriously hoping that this project will be completed and not left at a slow pace,” he said.
Another resident who identified himself as Uzochukwu Abraham noted that while the building project was started and yet to be completed, members of the community hope it is completed in good time as the dilapidated state of the school makes learning harder for children.
“Private schools are quite expensive, but these public schools are meant to make access to education better, where the children are learning is an eyesore and dilapidated,” he said.
The company which won the contract, Gorrion Engineering, was contacted through its officially listed contact on the Ebonyi State Open Contracting Portal, but no response was received to enquiries via calls and messages as of the time of filing this report.
What the law says
Relevant provisions of the Ebonyi State Public Procurement (BPP) Law clearly outline strict standards guiding fairness, transparency, technical competence and conflict of interest in the award of public contracts.
On competitive bidding and fairness, Section 21 1(b) notes that: “All public procurements shall be conducted by open competitive bidding,” while Section 21(c) notes that the contracts must be awarded “in a manner which is transparent, timely and equitable, to achieve value for money.” This underscores the legal requirement that contract awards must follow a process that gives all qualified bidders equal opportunity. However, as revealed by this investigation, the state government had awarded contracts to sole bidders in violation of Section 21 of the state procurement law.
To prevent manipulation, the law gives guidelines for technical experience and capacity, with Section 21 (2 from a-e) mandating that bidders meet strict qualification standards. It provides that all bidders shall: “Possess the necessary professional and technical qualifications, financial capability, equipment and other relevant infrastructure, adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.” This requirement highlights why companies without proven experience or capacity may not qualify for high-value government contracts.
Section 21(12, 13) of the law further places the burden of proof on bidders, stating that:
“The burden of proving fulfilment of the requirement for participation shall lie on the supplier or contractor.” This reinforces that companies must provide verifiable evidence of competence before being considered. This points to a direct violation in the case of a company like Senior Kendo Ventures, which deals in mattresses at its physical address and was yet awarded a contract of N172 million to construct classrooms.
On compliance and financial integrity, Section 21 subsection 2(e) adds that a bidder must: “Have fulfilled all its obligations to pay taxes, pensions and social security contributions,” adding that failure to meet these obligations can lead to disqualification. Award of contracts to companies few months old as of the time of tender and award questions their ability to fulfil these obligations. In these instances, the award of a contract to companies such as Uzochukwu Top Class Limited and HC Carter Limited becomes a violation of the state procurement law.
Taken together, these provisions of the Ebonyi State BPP Law demonstrate that the procurement framework prioritises fairness, transparency, technical competence and accountability. They also explain why newly formed or inexperienced companies, without proven track records or compliance, are unlikely to lawfully secure multi-million naira government contracts, particularly where issues of capacity or conflict of interest arise.
Experts comment
Speaking to the ICIR on procurement-related issues, Awosusi Kehinde, a lawyer who deals with companies, procurement and issues around incorporation of firms, frowned at awarding contracts without competitive processes. He noted that the procurement law stipulates that contracts must be awarded in strict adherence to the principles of competitive bidding.
“Contracts are meant to be well-advertised, bid for in a competitive process before the final award,” he noted.
He also stated that per law, construction companies are required to maintain a verifiable physical address where operational activities are visibly ongoing.
Also speaking, Anthony Adejuwon, Chief Executive Officer of Urban Alert, an accountability and socioeconomic-focused organisation, raised concerns over the award of contracts to infant companies.
“When you award a major contract to infant companies, the issue of capacity and their record in terms of experience and technical capacity to deliver comes to the fore,” he noted.
Ebonyi government reacts
Reacting to the development, Uzoma Betty, the executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Bureau of Public Procurement, defended the process, explaining that the state had duly advertised the contracts, but in most cases, only a single bidder responded.
In a written response, she said: “The projects for the construction of 12-classroom storey buildings were duly advertised for 30 days in line with the requirements for open competitive bidding under the Ebonyi State Public Procurement and Related Matters Law, 2020.”
“The procurement method adopted for the projects was ‘Open Tendering.” This method offers every interested bidder equal simultaneous information and opportunity to submit bids (Section 29(2)).”
“In these instances, although the tenders were processed through open competitive bidding, only one responsive bid was received for most of the lots. The Bureau proceeded with the evaluation and award of the contract to the sole responsive bidder after confirming that the bid met all technical and financial requirements, as the Law permits the evaluation and award based on the responsive bids received.”
“The process fully complied with the principles of transparency, equality of opportunity, and value for money enshrined in the Law. Where necessary, re-advertisement provisions under Section 35(2)(a) were considered, but the single responsive submission allowed progression in the public interest after due evaluation.”
However, when asked why most of the sole bidders were companies owned by government officials or politically exposed persons, she failed to respond.
She was further asked to provide evidence that the contracts had indeed been advertised, as well as to clarify the conduct of the award process and verification of the companies that won the contracts. Yet again, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State BPP failed to reply.
Several subsequent follow-ups also failed to elicit any additional comments from Uzoma Betty.
