House Committee Probes Concession Agreements Between 2006-2025

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the performance and benefits accrued to the Federal Government from concessionaires operating air and seaport terminals has issued a seven-day ultimatum to relevant agencies, stakeholders and operators to submit all requested documents covering 19 years.

The directive was issued by the Chairman of the Committee, Kolawole Akinlayo, during a public hearing in Abuja attended by key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

Also present were major concessionaires and terminal operators, including Dangote Group, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, West Africa Container Terminal, APM Terminals, Ibeto Terminal, ECM Terminal, Tin Can Island Terminal and other industry players.

The committee is probing concession agreements spanning 2006 to 2025 to determine the revenue generated, remittances made, contractual compliance levels and overall value delivered to the Federal Government.

Akinlayo explained that although the committee initially issued a 72-hour deadline for submission of documents, it resolved, following appeals from stakeholders, to extend the timeline from Monday to Friday next week.

“We have data from 2006 to 2025 already submitted to us by relevant government agencies,” Akinlayo said.

“What we require now are your own records so that we can compare, verify and establish the true position. We cannot rely on one-sided information. You must present your submissions.”

He stressed that the extension was granted in good faith and must be treated with urgency.

“This is a seven-day window. By the close of work on Friday next week, all requested documents must be before this committee,” he stated firmly.

The Chairman warned that failure to comply would leave the committee with no option but to adopt the information already in its possession and refer defaulting organisations to appropriate investigative and prosecutorial authorities.

“Any organisation that fails to comply within the stipulated period will leave us with no alternative,” he cautioned.

“Once we adopt the information before us and you have not made your submission, we may refer the matter to the appropriate authorities for further action.”

He further directed that the heads and chief executive officers of the affected agencies and concessionaire companies must personally appear before the panel at the expiration of the ultimatum to defend their records and address discrepancies.

Akinlayo, however, dismissed suggestions that the probe was targeted at any individual or organisation.

“This is not a witch-hunt,” he said. “We are carrying out our constitutional oversight responsibility in the interest of Nigeria. In fact, these submissions are in your own interest because they allow you to clarify your position.”

He added that a standard reporting template had been attached to the committee’s correspondence to ensure uniformity and ease of analysis, urging all stakeholders to strictly comply with the format.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Harrison Anozie, emphasised that the investigation would be strictly fact-based and guided by the concession agreements signed by the parties.

“When you speak before this committee, you must speak to documents,” Anozie said. “We will rely on facts as contained in the agreements and in your submissions.

If you claim that any agency prevented you from fulfilling your obligations, provide written evidence.”

He reminded concessionaires that the agreements were voluntarily entered into and that due diligence should have been conducted before signing.

“No one forced you into these contracts,” he stated. “You signed them and committed to specific deliverables and improvements.

Where you have performed in line with your agreements, you will be commended. Where you have not, the facts will speak for themselves.”

Anozie further disclosed that the substantive hearing would commence after all documents have been received, thoroughly analysed and benchmarked against industry data already in the committee’s possession.

According to the committee, the overarching objective of the probe is to ensure that concession agreements executed over the past 19 years have delivered tangible value to the Federal Government and improved efficiency at the nation’s ports, airports and terminals. “The country must work again,” And it must work for all of us.”
Akinlayo declared.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji