Project description:

The story revealed how an agency of Government, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) inflated the price of hand sanitizer (500ml) for its COVID-19 procurement deal worth $15,000 (₦5.6 million). Other agencies also spent thrice of the money (39.33 million) for the supply of face masks (Supply & Delivery of Face Mask for LGA Training participants. Delivery at NSCS, Abuja).

Impact reached:

After the data report, Nigerians on social media demanded an investigation and probe into the outrageous contracts and inflated prices of Personal Protective Equipment awarded by five federal agencies of government.

Techniques/technologies used:

I used Open Data Portals of the federal government to achieve the story and visualisation tool.

What was the hardest part of this project?

The hardest part was confirming some of the procurement items as COVID-19 lockdown impacted the story. Instead of letting the story go, I connected with friends across cities to contact suppliers and sellers of medical protectives.

 

What can others learn from this project?

Journalists from Africa and Nigeria need to start making using the government open portal platforms for impactive and investigations. These will strengthen governance and government procurement processes. It helps save cost and improve accountability.

Project links:

www.dataphyte.com/covid19nigeria/%e2%82%a635m-for-face-mask-%e2%82%a615m-for-liquid-soap-how-5-federal-mdas-mismanaged-%e2%82%a61-69-billion-covid19-fund/

www.dataphyte.com/economy/11-years-and-counting-as-nigeria-waits-on-her-5-billion-check-from-nnpc/

www.dataphyte.com/development/%e2%82%a6350-billion-sukuk-issuances-and-the-missing-transparency-on-nigerias-borrowing/

www.dataphyte.com/economy/nigerians-kick-over-outrageous-covid-19-spendings-frsc-defends-procurement-other-mdas-keep-mum/

www.dataphyte.com/economy/covid19-20-states-cut-2020-budget-but-what-data-aided-the-decision/