The 2025 report of the Ondo State Auditor-General has raised recent considerations over transparency and accountability within the administration of billions of naira meant for improvement initiatives within the state’s oil-producing communities, after auditors revealed that the Ondo State Oil Producing Space Improvement Fee (OSOPADEC) failed to supply contract paperwork for seven initiatives price about N6.7 billion.
The audit discovering, contained within the Auditor-General’s report for the yr ended December 31, 2025, has triggered questions over whether or not due procurement processes have been adopted in awarding the multi-billion-naira contracts, notably as unbiased checks by SaharaReporters uncovered that a number of the beneficiary corporations have been solely lately integrated, whereas one other couldn’t be traced on official company information.
Below the heading, “Contract Documents Not Produced,” the Auditor-General said: “We requested for the below listed contract paperwork, however the Fee is but to oblige Audit of identical.”
The lack of OSOPADEC to supply the requested information meant auditors couldn’t confirm whether or not the contracts complied with procurement legal guidelines, monetary laws, authorised contract phrases or implementation requirements.
The seven contracts span safety infrastructure, instructional interventions and highway development throughout Ilaje and Ese-Odo native authorities areas.
One of many contracts was for the “Group Itemizing/Identification of the Mandate Space in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Native Authorities Space of Ondo State,” awarded to DD Cyrusrex Enterprise for N353,679,650.22 with a completion interval of six months.
Though the audit report didn’t state the precise award date, SaharaReporters’ unbiased assessment of the Company Affairs Fee (CAC) helpful possession database confirmed that DD Cyrusrex Enterprise was integrated on January 16, 2025.
The incorporation date suggests the corporate would have been only some months previous if it obtained the contract throughout 2025. It additionally means the corporate couldn’t have lawfully secured the contract earlier than its registration in January 2025.
One other mission queried by auditors was the “Building of Naval Safety Checkpoints with Touchdown Jetty at Ebighan in Ilaje LGAs,” awarded to Digma Built-in Companies Restricted at N1,568,169,688.62, with a completion interval of 12 months.
The audit additionally recognized the “Building of Naval Safety Checkpoints at Apata Boundary at Ilaje Native Authorities Space, Ondo State,” awarded to Jossica Answer Ltd for N944,888,835.97, additionally with a 12-month completion interval.
In accordance with knowledge reviewed by SaharaReporters from the CAC helpful possession database, Jossica Answer Restricted was solely registered in July 2024, that means the corporate had existed for less than a comparatively brief interval earlier than securing the practically N945 million contract.
Auditors additional reported that OSOPADEC failed to supply information for the “Provide of 4,000 Twin Desks and Chairs to Colleges in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Native Authorities of Ondo State,” awarded to Progress Woods and Steel Industries Restricted for N502,148,625.00, with a six-month completion timeline.
Additionally listed was the “Building of Marine Police Checkpoint on Pile at Odun Oyinbo, Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State,” awarded to RJJ Technical Restricted for N1,507,729,158.78.
Unbiased checks by SaharaReporters confirmed that RJJ Technical Restricted was integrated in Might 2025.
The timing raises additional questions on how the corporate glad procurement necessities ordinarily anticipated for contracts of such magnitude, together with tax compliance historical past, technical competence {and professional} expertise.
If the contract was awarded shortly after incorporation, the corporate would have been only some months previous on the time it secured the N1.5 billion mission. Any award made earlier than its incorporation would even have been unimaginable.
The audit report likewise recognized the “Building of Naval Safety Checkpoints with Touchdown Jetty at Atijere in Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State,” awarded to KENAX Built-in for N357,161,719.23.
The seventh contract concerned the “Building of 1 km highway at Sabomi in Ese-Odo Native Authorities Space of Ondo State,” awarded to Phenkens Nigeria Restricted for N1,462,147,190.40, with an 18-month completion interval.
Nonetheless, SaharaReporters’ efforts to independently confirm the existence of Phenkens Nigeria Restricted proved unsuccessful.
Searches of the Company Affairs Fee’s helpful possession register didn’t produce any report of the corporate. Further digital footprint checks additionally yielded no verifiable web site or identifiable social media presence as of the time of submitting this report.
The absence of contract documentation, coupled with questions surrounding a number of the corporations that benefited from the contracts, considerably restricted the auditors’ potential to find out whether or not statutory procurement procedures have been adopted.
Contract paperwork ordinarily comprise vital information, together with procurement approvals, bidding paperwork, contract agreements, efficiency ensures, cost schedules, mission variations and completion certificates.
With out these information, auditors couldn’t independently set up whether or not the contracts have been correctly awarded, funds have been justified or the initiatives have been executed in line with authorised specs and timelines.
The newest audit findings add to earlier allegations surrounding the intervention company.
In February, SaharaReporters reported that OSOPADEC, below the management of Chairman Prince Otabiyi Olaleye Poroye, was dealing with allegations of corruption, monetary mismanagement and inside discord.
The report famous that following Governor Fortunate Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s inauguration of the brand new OSOPADEC board on June 16, 2025, expectations have been excessive that long-standing infrastructure deficits in oil-producing communities can be addressed.
Regardless of receiving a 2025 fiscal allocation of N33.8 billion for improvement initiatives, reviews indicated that little seen progress had been recorded throughout the mandate areas.
SaharaReporters additionally reported allegations that an inside energy battle over management of the Fee’s funds had crippled decision-making and stalled improvement initiatives.
The Auditor-General’s newest findings, mixed with SaharaReporters’ unbiased verification of the beneficiary corporations, are more likely to intensify scrutiny over procurement practices at OSOPADEC and gas recent requires authorities to account for the administration of billions of naira earmarked for improvement in Ondo State’s oil-producing communities.
