The controversy surrounding the Enugu State Smart School project has taken a new turn after businessman Akin Olaoye accused Governor Peter Mbah of failing to account for hundreds of abandoned contracts. In a post made via his official X handle, Olaoye alleged that out of the 220 Smart Schools approved for construction, only 22 were awarded to Sujimoto Luxury, while questions remain unanswered about the remaining 198 projects.
Olaoye’s statement immediately sparked reactions online, with critics and defenders of both the state government and Sujimoto Luxury trading words. In his post, Olaoye insisted that “facts are stubborn” and challenged the governor to explain why most contractors have abandoned their sites, leaving taxpayers in the dark. His claims have added to the ongoing debate about transparency and accountability in state-funded projects.
Several commentators quickly weighed in on Olaoye’s claims, pointing to their personal experiences. One user noted, “I have visited the Smart School in Enugu,” while another added, “He has refused to attend project delivery meetings.” The recurring question from observers remained whether Sujimoto had been credited by the government or not. Some suggested the businessman should seek legal recourse instead of engaging in social media battles.
“Twitter is not EFCC office,” one user remarked, cautioning Olaoye against what they described as emotional blackmail. According to this line of thought, if there were contractual breaches or fraud, the appropriate place to address such grievances would be the courtroom or the anti-graft agencies, not social media platforms.
Another critic stressed that Olaoye “has a case to answer,” citing financial irregularities. Reports allege that Sujimoto Luxury collected about ₦200 million upfront for each of the 22 smart schools awarded but that many of the sites have not even reached lintel level. This raised fresh concerns over the accountability of contractors handling sensitive state projects.
Some online voices insisted that while challenges in executing such large contracts are normal, absconding from sites without clear communication is unacceptable. “If you face challenges executing a contract, you report back and not abscond,” one user argued, highlighting that these are state-funded projects financed with taxpayer money and deserve full transparency.
The financial dimension of the matter also stirred questions. With Sujimoto reportedly securing ₦5.7 billion for 22 schools, some commentators asked whether the state government’s broader budget of over ₦100 billion for 220 schools was justifiable. Citizens were urged to press Governor Mbah for explanations about the other contractors and the status of their projects.
@Hon. Sunday Moses expressed skepticism about Olaoye’s attempts to defend himself, saying, “When he won the deal we no hear, the attempt to snow white and charcoal black is a waste.” For others, the businessman’s public defense only seemed to worsen his image.
Similarly, @Eze Odiachi criticized Sujimoto Luxury for allowing projects linked to its name to be left in a state of abandonment. “Someone of Sujimoto’s pedigree should under no circumstance leave a site associated with his name in that state and be unreachable,” he said. He warned that each failed project equates to “the death of several dreams,” calling the saga a case of misplaced priorities and irresponsibility.
Contrary to these criticisms, some commentators maintained that not all Smart School projects were abandoned. @Mr Arinze revealed that “some of the schools are already complete and functional,” though he acknowledged that others are still ongoing. However, he described Sujimoto’s defense as reckless and damaging to the company’s reputation.
Another user, @Basit, broke down the financial logic of the entire project, raising eyebrows over the total sum. He claimed that if 22 schools cost ₦10 billion, then constructing 220 would cost about ₦100 billion. “The citizens of Enugu should ask the governor a lot of questions,” he insisted, while also urging Sujimoto to report himself to the EFCC.
However, others argued that large contracts naturally come with unavoidable challenges. @Hamed Mustapha stated, “No contractor or architect can finish a massive project like that without problems. If you finish am na God.” He admitted the contract value was huge but claimed execution hurdles were inevitable in Nigeria’s construction climate.
The controversy also took on an ethnic dimension when @Otunba Balogun warned Yoruba businessmen about partnering with Igbo clients, describing Sujimoto’s ordeal as “betrayal and disappointment.” His statement sparked fresh debates about tribal bias in business, with many condemning such divisive remarks as unhelpful to the larger issue of accountability.
Meanwhile, @Okoro F.C.T pointed out that the focus should remain on accountability, stressing that Sujimoto must first explain the status of his own contracts before pointing fingers at other contractors. “All of them should account starting from Suji, whom EFCC has investigated,” he declared. His view echoed the sentiment that the responsibility lies both with the state and contractors to ensure transparency.
As the controversy deepens, one fact remains clear: the Smart School project, once hailed as a milestone for educational development in Enugu State, has now become a source of public outrage. Whether Olaoye’s accusations will prompt official investigations or fade into the noise of social media debates remains to be seen. For now, both Governor Mbah and Sujimoto Luxury are under pressure to address the growing calls for accountability.
