The BAO Media Centre (BMC) has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the Ekiti State Government awarded two separate contracts for the construction of the State Revenue House in Ado Ekiti, describing the claim as malicious or borne out of ignorance.
BMC explained that the procurement records, which are publicly accessible, clearly show one contract with a later-approved addendum, a standard procedure in project management when additional works outside the original scope become necessary.
According to the records, the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue Service in November 2024 awarded the contract for the construction of the Revenue House to Ricabim Nigeria Limited at the sum of ₦1,702,141,752.88. The agreement covered the core building structure and internal facilities, with an 18-month completion period.
Subsequently, in August 2025, an addendum of ₦731,511,105.58 was approved to cover external works and additional finishing components not included in the initial contract scope. This brought the total contract sum to ₦2,433,652,858.46.
“This is not a fresh or duplicate contract as Sahara Reporters claimed.
“It is an extension of the existing contract to ensure that the project, when delivered, meets the full specifications and operational standards required of such a critical facility," BMC stated.
The proposed Revenue House, strategically located at Fajuyi, Ado Ekiti, is a flagship infrastructure project of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration. It is designed to:
Modernise the state’s revenue collection system
Provide a centralised workspace for revenue officers
Reduce leakages and enhance efficiency in tax administration
Boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) capacity.
BMC emphasised that the Oyebanji administration remains committed to transparency, accountability, and due process in all procurement matters, noting that all contract awards and amendments are duly captured on the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement’s Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) portal for public scrutiny.
“The public is advised to disregard the Sahara Reporters story as a classic case of sensationalism. This administration will not be distracted from its focus on delivering projects that directly impact the lives of the people,” the statement concluded.
