Dapo Abiodun sparks outrage over Sagamu road project, facing criticism for hypocrisy and interference in federally funded infrastructure
Dapo Abiodun has come under fire after directing tougher technical standards for a federally awarded road project in Sagamu, drawing accusations of hypocrisy and political interference.
The Paddy Arikawe Oye-Igbimo Road, contracted to Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited by the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), became the centre of controversy following a letter from the Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
Signed by Permanent Secretary Engr. Dr. Yusuf L.O., the letter flagged deficiencies in the contractor’s proposal.
It noted that while documents such as the award letter and cross-sectional drawings were submitted, the proposal failed to specify the exact stretch of road in relation to the Oba-Erinwole Road.
Abiodun’s directive insisted on reinforced concrete pavements of at least Grade 35, preferably Grade 40, rejecting the contractor’s proposed Grade 20.
He also demanded a stone base thickness of no less than 150 mm, preferably 200 mm, with reinforcement bars boasting a tensile strength of at least 460 N/mm².
The state ordered full compliance with Federal Ministry of Works standards, including detailed drawings and material testing plans.
The intervention has provoked sharp criticism, particularly as the project was awarded and funded by a federal agency under the Presidency, with approval signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
“Why is Abiodun interfering in a federal project?” one commentator asked on X, hinting at political motives linked to his strained relationship with former governor and current senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who facilitated the project.
More damaging for the governor is the charge of double standards. Critics have lambasted Abiodun’s own road projects, claiming that state-built roads in Iperu and Ilishan deteriorated soon after construction.
“The road to Dapo’s house wouldn’t meet these standards,” another X user quipped, as calls grew for an independent audit of state projects and the release of Bills of Quantities for transparency.
Analysts warn that the row could strain federal-state relations, with Sagamu residents left in limbo as politics overshadows urgent infrastructure needs.
Whether Abiodun’s intervention reflects genuine concern for quality or political posturing remains a divisive question, but the uproar has placed his own track record firmly under the spotlight.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
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