USL Denies Allegations in Africa Confidential Report
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has denied allegations published in the August 2024 edition of Africa Confidential, which accused the institution of secretly losing $4.5 million in a deal with Nigerian firm FEMAB Properties. The deal was related to the construction of a residential campus for IPAM at Bureh Town.
Acting Registrar Munda Lebbie clarified that USL has consistently informed the public about the project through press briefings, with the most recent update in February 2022. The university affirmed that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the matter and urged the public to await the findings.
The project began in January 2016 with government approval to build the IPAM campus on 70 acres in Bureh Town under a public-private partnership with FEMAB. Despite receiving a $37.5 million funding guarantee from the Ministry of Finance in 2018, the project faced delays due to financial issues, the pandemic, and changing government leadership.
USL confirmed that initial construction had begun but halted in 2020 because of financing issues and contractual disputes. The university acknowledged a $4.5 million payment to FEMAB, stating it was part of the agreed project cost.
A site visit on August 24, 2024, revealed that FEMAB had abandoned the project and removed equipment. The university intends to address security concerns and is awaiting the ACC’s findings before proceeding further.
