Representatives summon NIMASA, NPA, Customs, others

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Koko, and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, were called before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Disposal of Public Property on Thursday. They were asked to explain why the agencies were justified in selling some public properties at auction.

At the panel’s resumed hearing, the summons was issued by Julius Ihonvbere, the committee’s chairman and leader of the House.

The committee is looking into numerous ministries and agencies’ unlawful auctioning of public property.

“NIMASA and NPA seem to have a well-known propensity to not respond to invitations from the parliament,” he said. And this is something we will not stand for.

In the 9th Assembly, “The Nigeria Customs tended not to honor our invitations. However, this Assembly will not permit that. I suggest that the chief of customs get in touch with the committee’s clerk to schedule a time to appear and provide the necessary papers and information.

“The Ministry of Water Resources also does not have a representative present. It is a terrible way to begin for a government that wants to alter the course of events and better the lot of Nigerians. I shall suggest that the permanent secretary speak with the committee’s clerk to set a new time.

Ihonvbere went on to say, “I feel that some of them think what we are doing here is a joke, but by the time they realize it is not a joke, it will be too late.

In order to give the NPA, NIMASA, Customs, and Ministry of Water Resources another chance to testify before this committee, we are delaying taking further action.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation’s presentation, made by Mr. Pascal Nnolie, its liaison officer, and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority’s, made by MD Engr. Babalola Olatunji, were both previously rejected by the panel.

Ihonvbere rejected NRC’s proposal, stating that the “documents before me are those of 2015 and 2016 previously submitted to the committee on public accounts of the House.”

“With all due respect to your MD, this is a slight to the committee and the parliament. We cannot use any papers from 2016 that you provide. The presentation is being rejected by the committee. Bring them back to your MD, let him respect the committee, and have him present it again in 48 hours.

The chairman advised the MD of the Ogun-Osun River Basin, “Be careful with the kinds of documents you present to the National Assembly, understanding that you’re under oath.

“In the committee’s opinion, your report does not adhere to the format set forth in the letter that was addressed to you. We will withdraw this report, give you time to complete your work thoroughly, and request a new report from you within 48 hours.

However, the committee gave Engr. Mohammed Adara, MD of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, praise for his speech.

He was instructed to provide the House with the remaining paperwork.