Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi’s Report Exposed The Looting of Kwara Express Properties

About 31 years ago, Kwara Express was established on February 11, 1988. In 2012, the company was transferred to Harmony Holdings limited for management by the Kwara State government.

A committee set up by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on review of sales of Kwara State government properties from 1999 till date, led by Senator Makanjuola Ajadi came up with a blowing report.

According to the report of the committee, shortly after Harmony Holdings took over the management of Kwara Express in 2012, the company’s generators were taken away.

Also, 3 of its vehicles were given away to various individuals and 2 other vehicles were sold at ridiculous prices without due process.

In addition to the above, original certificate of occupancy of Kwara Express premises at Offa garage was forcefully taken away from the company by Harmony Holdings in 2015 and some portion of the premises was sold without due process. The depot of Kwara Express had also been sold illegally.

Before Harmony Holdings took over the company, Kwara Express has 40 vehicles acquired through loan from urban development bank as well as other vehicles acquired through loan at infrastructure bank.

It is a common knowledge that when a company is taken over by another, its assets and liabilities become the responsibility of the new company management. However, this is not case with Kwara Express.

While Harmony Holdings took over the assets, the company’s liabilities were still left to government to handle.

The loan taken to buy over 40 vehicles for Kwara Express was eventually paid by the government, meaning that Harmony Holdings was not responsible for the repayment, despite being the one taking all the company’s income.

It is also important to note that, most of Kwara Express equipment’s both at the workshop and operations department are not properly maintained and left in a state of despair

The company’s clinic and toilet facilities within the premises for passengers are also dilapidated.

Furthermore, contributory pension is being operated in Kwara Express, but deductions from staff salaries for that purpose are not remitted as stipulated by the contributory pension law.

This is in addition to salaries not being paid to staff as at when due and National Housing fund deducted are not paid to them after retirement.

Based on the above, it is clear that Kwara Express needs to be renovated and operational vehicles provided.