The House of Representatives made a significant decision on Wednesday. They opted to postpone the ongoing investigation into the disposal of public property. This postponement arose due to the perceived inadequacies in the response provided by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) delegation. The NPA representatives failed to adequately address inquiries regarding the sale of a substantial 45 million items/barrels at the Lagos Ports Complex in Papa, Lagos in 2022.
Furthermore, it has come to light that the Agency managed to sell an impressive 10,800,700 items, priced at N1 each, amounting to a total of N10.800 million in 2021. These sales emanated from the NPA Dockyard in Papa, Lagos.
The responsibility of investigating the disposal of public property was entrusted to the Ad-hoc Committee, led by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere. Their mandate is to delve into the actions of various government agencies in the period spanning from 2010 to 2022. The primary objectives are to uncover the extent of illegal auctioning of public property and to shed light on the failure to remit revenue generated into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Documents presented to the Ad-hoc Committee by NPA showed that the Agency sold 16 vessels at the sum of N156,233,966.75 in 2019.
The vessels are: ML Pategi sold at N3,250,892.50; ML Misau sold at N1,056,142.50; PB Kabba sold at N5,355,892.50; SPB 3 sold at N53,396.25; PC Shelleng sold at N48,142.50; ML Sakwa sold at N531,142.50; Floating Dock V sold at N107,500,913.00; ML Tangeli sold at N538,413.74; while ML Tandama was sold at N538,474.75.
In the same vein, MT Bajima was sold at N8,437,642.40; PC Owatoloyo sold at N3,780,892.50; PC Umuahia sold at N2,688,413.75; MT Ibeto sold at N3,150,892.50; MT Owerri sold at N2,150,161.25; MT Bansara sold at N8,662,657.50 and MT Bashar sold at N8,882,657.50.
Meanwhile, some of the stakeholders were privy to the process but spoke under condition of anonymity, explaining that some of the vessels and other office items described as unserviceable are still in good condition.
In the same vein, NPA sold 44 exotic vehicles including Ranger Pick Up, Toyota Coaster Buses, Toyota Corolla cars, Toyota Hiace cars, Toyota Camry Salon Cars, Toyota Hilux Pick Up cars, Isuzu Pick Up cars, Mitsubishi Jeeps, Mercedes Benz Truck, Land Rover Mini Fire Van, among others at the total sum of N31,848,948.
The documents further revealed that Land Rover Mini Fire Truck was sold at N20,000; Toyota Hilux Van sold at N50,000; Isuzu Pick Up Van sold at N30,000; Peugeot 504 Salon car sold at N20,000; another Toyota Hilux Van sold at N60,000; Mitsubishi Pick Up Van sold at N53,000; Ford Ranger sold at N60,000; another Isuzu Pick Up sold at N55,000;
The Agency also sold various office equipment such as generators and tanks, batteries, fuel tank, Craner, mast, vans, welding machine, motorcycles and bicycles at N22,721,754 in 2019.
In the same year, NPA sold 44 series of vehicles including Mitsubishi Pick Up Van at N21,735; Toyota Hilux Van at N50,000; Ford Ranger Pick Up Van at N60,000; among others.
While ruling, Hon. Ihonbvere directed the NPA delegation to come on Monday, along with the list of properties slated for auctioning, evaluation reports and name of registered Valuers involved in the transactions; including their reports, government approval from the office of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Federal Executive Council; including Certificate of No Objection where necessary, evidence of remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, bidding procedures, newspaper publications, selection and every other documents that will assist the Ad-hoc Committee.
While reacting to the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi’s non-appearance before the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Ihonbvere argued that public funds are being spent from its scarce resources in publishing the summons in newspapers; only to get a reply of an apology from the Service for their inability to appear before the committee due to some operations outside Abuja.
While issuing final warning to the newly appointed NCS Comptroller General, the Majority Leader noted that the arrogance of power and indiscipline in the public service can have negative consequences and, hence should be addressed.
