Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya, a former senator representing Katsina Central has allegedly diverted a N98 million solar streetlights project meant for his constituents to his personal residence.
Barkiya who represented the senatorial district during the 9th Assembly was alleged to have installed most of the solar lights at his GRA personal residence in Katsina metropolis.
According to TrackaNG, a non-profit organisation monitoring public procurement across the country, the project was budgeted for in 2023 fiscal year and the funds were disbursed in May 2024.
Paid to Aniset Integrated Services Ltd, the implementing agency, Energy Commission of Nigeria has failed to specify the location of the N97m Solar project in any of the 12 local government areas that made up the senatorial district.
However, TrackaNG said it tracked and discovered that most of the streetlights were installed inside the ex-lawmaker’s house, thus raising alarm of possible breach of procurement Act.
“In May 2024, N97m was paid to Aniset Integrated Services Ltd for the Provision of Solar Street Lights in Katsina Central Senatorial District, Katsina State, in the 2023 FG Budget,” the organisation posted on X.
*We tracked and report that most of the streetlights were installed inside the residence of the immediate past Senator, @EngKabirBarkiya in Katsina metropolis GRA. Only a handful of streetlights were installed outside the house”, it added.
Tracka, however, called on the implementation agency to provide details of the project and the benefiting communities while urging the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged fraud.
WikkiTimes learnt that while in the 9th Assembly, the senator was in the forefront advocating for due process in procurement process.
He was one of the lawmakers to criticise the Public Procurement Act, 2007 for paving the way for corruption in the country.
Efforts to contact the senator proved abortive as an inquiry sent to his verified X handle had not been responded to as of press time.
