Niger Audit report flags abandoned housing estate, missing documents, calls for refunds running into billions
By Aminu Abubakar
The Niger State Government’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, have revealed widespread financial irregularities, substandard project execution, missing documentation and alleged mismanagement of public funds across several ministries, departments and agencies.
The report, issued by the Office of the State Auditor-General, highlighted serious concerns over the New Airport City Housing Estate project in Minna, alongside numerous cases of payments made without supporting documents, unaccounted expenditures and violations of financial regulations.
Abandoned Airport City Housing Estate
SolaceBase reports that one of the most critical findings of the audit was recorded under projects verified and found to be unsatisfactory, particularly the Airport City Housing Estate executed by the Niger State Housing Corporation.
According to the report, the project was initially awarded to 12 different contractors, with contract sums running into several billions of naira. The contractors were paid substantial amounts, in some cases up to 90 per cent of the contract sums, despite varying and often incomplete levels of work done.
The audit showed that companies such as Sayiti Enterprises Limited, Morgarin Construct Limited, Afrium Commercial Limited, Wiser Estate, Bowater System, Bil-Arcam Concept, Ruhul-Haq Nigeria Limited and Arrow Multiple Ideas Limited allegedly received significant payments, with completion levels ranging from 25 per cent to 100 per cent.
Despite these payments, the report stated that the present administration was dissatisfied with the pace and quality of work and directed the Niger State Housing Corporation to take over the project through a direct labour approach.
However, auditors found that the termination and handover process between the contractors and the Housing Corporation was not properly documented.
“The termination of the contract and handing and taking over of the project between the contractors and Niger State Housing Corporation appeared not to have been done properly, as necessary documents in this respect were not tendered for audit,” the report stated, warning that the situation “may result in litigation by the contractors.”
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No Bill of Quantity, Unclear Costs
The audit further revealed that no Bill of Quantity (BOQ) was provided for the housing estate project, making it impossible to ascertain the actual cost of individual housing units and associated infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity.
“Our inspection further reveals that no bill of quantity (BOQ) was tendered to ascertain the actual cost of the project,” the report noted.
Auditors recommended that contractors be compelled to render the BOQ for proper examination and documentation.
Alleged Mismanagement of N850 Million
The report accused officials of mismanagement of funds following the release of N850 million for the project.
According to the audit, the amount should have been sufficient to complete the entire 300-unit housing estate. Instead, only 125 houses allocated to the Nigerian Air Force received attention, and even those were described as substandard.
“The remaining 175 houses that will complete the 300 housing estate received little or no attention at all,” the report stated, adding that no activity was ongoing at the project site during the auditors’ inspection.
Photographic evidence of abandoned and poorly executed structures at the New Airport City Housing Estate in Maikunkele, Minna, was attached to the report.
Missing Records and Unsupported Payments
Beyond the housing project, the audit uncovered multiple financial infractions across ministries and agencies.
In the Ministry of Primary Health Care, 13 payment vouchers amounting to N3,074,000 were paid without the necessary supporting documents. The ministry was also cited for failure to maintain an asset register and for not presenting store records for audit.
The Niger State Universal Basic Education Board was flagged for paying N26,990,465.19 for sports equipment without store receipt vouchers, store-issued vouchers or distribution lists. Another N15,035,000 spent on repairs of two Toyota Hilux vehicles was questioned after the replaced engines and tyres could not be found in the store.
The auditors recommended full refunds in both cases.
Textbooks, Media Payments and NICARE
The audit also raised concerns over the supply of textbooks, where eight payment vouchers totalling N572,549,913.50 lacked store-issued vouchers and distribution lists. The auditors recommended that the entire amount be refunded to the government coffers.
At NICARE, five payment vouchers amounting to N2,668,000 were reportedly not fully accounted for, prompting another refund recommendation.
Payments to media houses totalling N769,000 were similarly queried due to the absence of media receipts.
Revenue Records Not Produced
The Ministry of Mining and Mineral Resources failed to present revenue records for audit inspection, contrary to constitutional and statutory provisions. Auditors recommended disciplinary action against the officers responsible.
Similarly, the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was cited for failing to prepare receipt vouchers for N1.2 million collected between July and December 2024.
Overseas Trip Without Evidence
Under the appropriation audit, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal was queried for spending N79,698,000 on an overseas trip to South Africa without attaching documents such as council approval, air tickets or boarding passes.
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The report recommended that the entire amount be refunded.
The ministry was also accused of spending N37,381,924 without supporting documents and bypassing store procedures for stock-related purchases.
Excess Expenditure and Budget Breaches
At the Niger State Traffic Management Agency, auditors discovered excess expenditure of N76,113,597.89 above the approved 2024 budget of N8 million.
The report recommended a refund of the excess amount in line with financial regulations.
Performance Audit Findings
While the audit acknowledged that some projects were verified and found satisfactory, including renovation works at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital, it stressed that many projects failed the value-for-money test.
The report concluded by urging strict enforcement of financial instructions, improved internal audit controls, proper documentation, and accountability measures to prevent future losses of public funds.
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