The Lagos State Public Procurement Agency has reacted to the recent statement posted on its website, which has attracted condemnation for the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
The Director-General of the agency, Fatai Onafowote, in a statement obtained by NIGERIACRIME, restated PPA’s commitment to transparency and accountability in all government dealings.
The DG clarified that the statement was misinterpreted due to lack of clarity, saying, “Acknowledging the misunderstandings arising from a lack of clarity, we recognise the unintended misinterpretations of this information.
“The Agency is committed to ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accountability in all government transactions, as mandated by the Lagos State Public Procurement Law.
“We regret that specific details, particularly concerning the descriptions of government dealings, may have inadvertently led to confusion, impacting both governmental entities and corporate partners providing services to the State. This arose largely from the lack of detailed descriptions in the project information, which has inadvertently led to confusion in the public space.”
“We empathize with public concerns and extend our sincere apologies for any distress caused. It’s never our intent to cast doubt or cause misunderstandings that might tarnish the reputation of respected individuals and organizations involved in these transactions.”
“To address these concerns thoroughly, the Agency has taken immediate steps. Line-by-line explanations of the contracts in question are attached herewith, aiming to provide absolute clarity and dispel any lingering misconceptions.”
“The Agency will continue to improve its internal processes and communication methods as our commitment as a government is to offer clearer and more accessible information to the public. It is pivotal to stress that the Agency’s autonomy exists to ensure fairness and transparency, not to cause confusion or discredit any involved parties. We therefore assure the public of our unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity in all our operations. Looking ahead, we pledge our continued commitment to consistently and accurately report all government transactions in the State.”
The government came under attack after the agency posted on its website that Governor Sanwo-Olu approved N7.5 million to replace liquid fragrance in his office and N3 billion to purchase rechargeable fans for the office of his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.
The statement further claimed that N440 million was approved for the purchase of a new Lexus LX 600 Bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicle for use in the pool of Office of Chief of Staff.