The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDG) has dismissed a report that it paid the sum of US$141.1 million to a restaurant in Abuja two weeks before the end of the term of the Buhari administration.
The Office headed by Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described the news published by online media as not only misleading but also false and a calculated attempt to tarnish the good image of the Office.
A statement by OSSAP-SDGs Communications Officer Rotimi Ajayi said the office would not grant a response to the article, but for innocent readers who may not understand the essence of the issue, it was necessary to define saving directly.
“We would like to clearly point out that the reports contained a distorted description of the procedure and showed the author’s ignorance of the functioning of state institutions.”
“We wish to state categorically that the information contained in the publication in question is false and most likely a deliberate attempt to mislead with the intention of embarrassing the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President for the SDGs as there was no issue of fraud or abuse in the implementation of the project in question. “
“OSSAP-SDGs categorically denies these allegations and insists that it has been transparent in its construction of skills acquisition centres and classrooms in Lagos State as well as numerous other similar projects across the country,” the statement said.
According to the documents submitted by the company during the bidding process, the company in question is duly registered with valid registration documents and tax documents with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC
Even the accusation that it is a normal restaurant is the result of the author’s imagination since the project was carried out by a team of professionals with the necessary qualifications and knowledge in the field of construction and engineering. The structures were built to specific and industry standards, as evidenced by photographic evidence and provided GPS coordinates.
The authority noted that the decision to move the project from its original location to Ajeromi was based on the fact that there was insufficient space at the original location to ensure the success of the project.
Contrary to the report, the project was carried out as planned and the class block and the skills acquisition center were put into operation.
Photo documentation with GPS coordinates is available to confirm this fact.
“In summary, we conclude that the report contains inaccuracies because the award of the contract was with due process and was not arbitrary,” the statement reads.
