A report by CivicHive of BudgIT, a non-governmental organisation, has exposed how the Federal Ministry of Health awarded 15 out of 29 COVID-19 contracts to one company, needlessly bought a Prado at an over-inflated price of N39.75 million and purchased face masks outrageously at N20,467 each to the tune of N37.06 million in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 15 contracts, worth N444.28 million, were reportedly awarded to Marvelous Mike Press Limited. The report said the Health Ministry disbursed N970.25 million, which was sourced from the COVID-19 intervention fund, and over 50 percent of that money was given to Marvelous Mike Press Limited.

In a series of tweets on Monday, CivicHive said a sum of N3.03 billion had been spent by seven government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on COVID-19 contracts. It attributed several “inflated payments” for the different contracts to closed procurement process.

According to the report, N489.14 million was spent by the Health Ministry on COVID-19 contracts.

It said Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital spent N2.72 million, while Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, spent N45.34 million.

The group questioned the acquisition of a Prado jeep, purchased by the NCDC at the dubious rate of N39.75 million, asking what was the purpose of the vehicle amid the coronavirus pandemic?

The report further exposed that the federal ministry of health lavished N37.06 million on 1,808 pieces of face masks at the rate of N20,467 each.

CivicHive of BudgIT tweeted, “The Ministry of Health spent N37.06m on just 1808 pieces of ordinary face masks. This brings the cost of a single mask to approximately N20,467. This is ridiculously expensive!

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