The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has announced a revision to the previously reported estimated cost of the solar streetlight project in Awka metropolis following public complaints about potential fund mismanagement.
The earlier statement was deemed inaccurate, citing significant errors in the amount allocated for the project.
It should be recalled that on Friday, November 27, a statement signed by Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner, disclosed that a total of ₦1.01 billion had been allocated for the contract to install 1,130 solar streetlights across Awka, the state capital.
The statement further revealed that the contract had already been awarded to three contractors at the 35th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) Meeting for the solar streetlight project.
However, Investors King gathered that the government acknowledged the unit cost of the project was excessively high and required a downward review. Consequently, an adjustment of the cost was proposed and disclosed via the state’s official website on Sunday.
According to the update, the total approved amount for the project has not been finalized, and further deliberations are ongoing to reduce the cost of illuminating Awka.
During the ANSEC meeting, concerns were raised about the high unit cost of the project, prompting the council to suspend the proposal for further review.
The statement from the meeting noted “At the 35th Anambra State Executive Council Meeting, held at the Council chambers in Awka, the council debated extensively on the memo regarding the installation of solar-powered streetlights in Awka metropolis and resolved as follows:
- That the unit cost was on the high side and should be reviewed downward.
- The memo was thus stepped down and rescheduled for re-presentation at the next ANSEC meeting, where all specifications would be available.”
The statement also clarified that the earlier release, which suggested the streetlight project had already been awarded, was a slip and should be disregarded.
“The slip in the last release, which reported the streetlight project as having been awarded, is regretted and should be treated as such,” the statement concluded.
