Investigative disclosures published on August 5, 2026, outlined allegations of contract inflation involving the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, concerning procurement and installation projects across four public tertiary Institutions. The financial records under review highlight total expenditures amounting to 841 million Naira allocated for solar streetlight projects, alongside 23 million Naira disbursed for separate consultancy services.

Financial transactions recorded on May 10, 2023, detailed a 300 million Naira contract allocation for special solar installations at Aminu Saleh College of Education in Azare, accompanied by a 7.7% consultancy payment. Similar procurement records showed 250 million Naira allocated to the Federal University of Otuoke in Bayelsa State, 170 million Naira directed to the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, and 121 million Naira disbursed for installations at the Federal College of Education in Akoka, Lagos State.

The documentation indicated that unit prices per streetlight across the projects ranged between 917,000 Naira and 1 million Naira. Comparative industry estimates from active procurement specialists suggest standard market rates for commercial grade solar streetlights with three year warranty coverage typically benchmark between 450,000 Naira and 500,000 Naira per unit, prompting calls for increased regulatory scrutiny regarding public fund utilization within federal agency budgets.