The Edo State Government has refuted recent allegations surrounding the Edo Geographic Information Service (Edo GIS), dismissed them as misinformation allegedly sponsored by foreign consultants and agents of the previous administration.
In a public statement signed by the Managing Director of Edo GIS, Dr. Tony Ikpasaja, the agency reassured the public that it remained fully operational under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, despite ongoing propaganda from those seeking to retain control.
Dr. Ikpasaja detailed the history of Edo GIS, revealing that the project was initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and handed over to his successor, Godwin Obaseki, for implementation. However, he claimed that the project, modeled after the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), was hijacked by foreign consultants who continued managing it at an exorbitant cost.
According to the statement, Governor Obaseki initially contracted foreign consultants in 2017 to develop Edo GIS software for ₦3.78 billion, with a two-year completion timeline. However, instead of handing over operations to trained state personnel upon completion in 2019, the consultants allegedly remained in control.
Dr. Ikpasaja further alleged that the consultants were paid an additional ₦1.99 billion in 2021 to continue managing the office for two years, despite Edo State having trained personnel capable of handling the task. Another ₦2.94 billion was reportedly paid in 2023 to extend their contract into 2024 and 2025. Over the past eight years, Edo GIS officials were denied access to critical operational data, which was allegedly controlled from a discreet location in Abuja. The former administration reportedly facilitated the acquisition of 76,000 hectares of land, including the Coral City project, through the foreign consultants.
A previous Edo GIS Managing Director was allegedly removed for resisting land-grabbing attempts by the former government.
The statement accused the consultants of resisting Governor Okpebholo’s decision to allow civil servants to take full control of Edo GIS operations, rather than relying on costly external management.
Dr. Ikpasaja emphasized that Edo GIS remained functional and assured the public that all land records, including Certificates of Occupancy and cadastral data, are now more secure under the new administration. He also dismissed reports questioning the agency’s operations as attempts by the former administration’s agents to discredit the current government.
“The Edo State Government has spent ₦8.72 billion on foreign consultants for Edo GIS over the past eight years, but Governor Okpebholo, being an ICT expert, will not fall for any cheap blackmail,” the statement read.
