Betta Edu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has stirred up controversy by authorizing funds for plane tickets and airport taxis for her team’s trip to Kogi State, despite the fact that Kogi does not have a functional airport, according to a report published in The Cable on Sunday, January 7, 2024. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
This information was discovered in an internal memo that was leaked and accessed by TheCable on November 6, 2023.
N72,374,500 has been set aside for this reason; the memo, titled “The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023,” describes this allocation.
The memo specifies that this sum is intended for the Minister’s “advanced team” to travel by air for an “event” in Kogi.
Each team member, including aides, is allocated N200,000 for flight tickets, N20,000 for airport taxis, and additional travel allowances, depending on their grade level.
The Minister’s own air ticket is allocated a separate N300,000.
This news has caused significant public outrage, questioning the rationale behind spending large sums on air travel to a state without an operational airport.
In November 2020, Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello met with then-President Muhammadu Buhari, specifically requesting funds for the construction of an airport in the state.
This further highlights the absurdity of using air travel when no viable infrastructure exists.
Furthermore, this controversy follows on the heels of another financial scandal surrounding Edu.
A leaked letter dated December 20, 2023, revealed her instructing the Accountant General of the Federation to transfer N585 million to a private account under the guise of funding relief efforts in four states.
This incident also sparked calls for investigation and accountability.
These recent episodes have fueled allegations of financial mismanagement and abuse of power within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Several civil society organizations, including the Network for the Actualisation of Social Development and Good Governance (NEFGAD), have demanded President Bola Tinubu initiate disciplinary action against Edu.
They characterize her actions as “serious corruption and financial misconduct that warrant severe penalties.”
The pressure is mounting on both Edu and the government to address these concerns and provide transparent explanations for these controversial financial transactions.
The lack of an airport in Kogi and the ongoing allegations of misuse of funds highlight the need for stringent oversight and accountability within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
