Kebbi State government has clarified that the Adolescence Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project was suspended due to the involvement of three key officials of the project in fraudulent practices capable of undermining the purpose of the initiative.

The Chief Press Secretary to State Governor, Ahmed Idris, who disclosed this through a statement, yesterday, said part of the fraud perpetrated by the officers, who were sacked by the previous administration, includes processing of awarded contract to the tune of N8.8 billion without the consent of the governor or significant compliance to due process.

He added that the World Bank was equally informed of the unhealthy development and their subsequent suspension so as to enable an unimpeded investigation.

While reacting to an open letter written by Ahmed Umar and published by Kebbi Trust, titled: “Kebbi State Education Sector at Verge of Total Collapse as World Bank Set to Divert Approved Fund Earmarked for Kebbi AGILE Project to Sokoto State,” Idris said the state was aware of significant achievements recorded through the AGILE project.

He, however, noted that there are some loopholes in the initiative that needed to be corrected in consonance with the new administration’s mandate.

He said the AGILE funds from World Bank are not grants, but recoverable loan from Kebbi State resources.

He added: “We therefore have the obligation to ensure prudent utilisation of such meager resources. For the avoidance of doubt, AGILE is indeed a project inherited from the former administration and is geared towards improving the quality of education of adolescent girls.

“It is significant to note that three key functionaries of this project were involved in fraudulent practices culpable of undermining the purpose for which AGILE was introduced and the officers were accordingly suspended by the former administration. The World Bank was equally informed of the unhealthy development and their subsequent suspension so as to enable an unimpeded investigation. A committee was thus constituted by the former administration to address the situation.

“Indeed, the act of serious misconduct perpetuated by the officers is to the extent of processing the award of contract to the tune of N8, 887,986,332.27 with neither the consent of the governor nor significant compliance to due process.

“In the prevailing circumstances, I am to affirm that the AGILE project and its operation has not been tampered with and AGILE as a programme is still subsisting in Kebbi State. The suspension of the officers is therefore without prejudice to the sustainability and performance of the AGILE project.

“Furthermore, government is determined to consolidate the gains of AGILE projects (even though AGILE is only a complementary outfit in our strive to improve the educational standard) and to look for more avenues that will seek to improve the quality of education and the girl child in specific terms.”