• About Us
  • Home
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Shaka Momodu
  • Right Of Reply
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • OpEds
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Right Of Reply
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • OpEds
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Shaka Momodu
Home Business

Why the N142 billion e-Customs Project is Raising Eyebrows

by News Reporters
1 month ago
in Business, News
0 0
0
Why the N142 billion e-Customs Project is Raising Eyebrows
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to grant a second sanction for the implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Modernisation Project, 38 days before its expiration, was met with controversy.

The E-Customs Project costs $3.1 billion (approximately N142 billion).

Wednesday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning Clem Agba announced that the Council had approved a memo appointing Bergman Security Consultant and Supplies Limited as project sponsor, Africa Finance Corporation as lead financier, and Huawei Technologies as lead technical service provider.

Although two senior advocates (SANs) had written the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning about the need to obey a court order in a suit FHC/ABJ/CS/848/2022 filed by the original concessionaire, Messrs. E-Customs HC Project, Agba said he was unaware of a pending court order on the matter.

According to available records, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, presented memo number EC2020/153 to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the highest decision-making body of the Federal Government, on September 2, 2020, and obtained approval for the two plaintiffs to be granted the concession.

The FEC ratified the Modernization Project with directives to fully automate all NCS business processes and procedures through the development and implementation of a secure ICT platform. This involves the integration of all systems with the current ICT infrastructure, as well as the development and implementation of modern customs border stations, airports, and marine installations.

Ahmed told reporters at the State House at the time that the concession had been granted to E. Customs HC Projects Nigeria Limited for a concessionary period of twenty years. The government is projected to earn approximately $176 billion during the period.

The original concessionaire has raised the alarm over “a plot” to replace the approved concessionaire, Messrs E. Customs HC Project Limited, with an entity allegedly registered on April 5, 2022 with Umar –Ajijola Jummai Zainab as one of the Directors and shareholders.

The alleged circumvention of due process by senior Buhari administration officials may have rendered the E-Customs Project inoperable. As a result of the parties’ recourse to litigation, it has become apparent that Buhari may have been misled into vetoing an approval granted by the FEC, which he presided over in September 2020.

The claim made by Agba contradicts the available evidence. In separate letters sent last week, senior solicitors Ahmed Raji and Dipo Okpeseyi warned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) of alleged efforts to obtain the “Federal Executive Council’s approval or ratification of the re-award of the E-Customs Modernisation Project.”

In a follow-up letter to Osinbajo, Ahmed Raji and Co. drew attention to a pending suit on the subject at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and alleged that the Ministry of Finance, at the instigation of the NCS Comptroller General)CG), had perfected plans to present a memo for the Council’s approval of a new concessionaire in flagrant disregard for the rule of law, as reported by Vanguard.

Tags: e-Customs Project
Previous Post

How Nigeria’s Debt to World Bank Increased by 121.46% as Buhari Leaves Office

Next Post

Stranded Nigerians In Sudan: In the Absence of National Carrier, Air Peace Comes to Rescue again

Next Post
Stranded Nigerians In Sudan: In the Absence of National Carrier, Air Peace Comes to Rescue again

Stranded Nigerians In Sudan: In the Absence of National Carrier, Air Peace Comes to Rescue again

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NEWS AROUND

  • Ill-health: Akeredolu is Alive, not Dead, Says Ondo Govt | METROWATCH

    By Ogochukwu Isioma Following the rumours of […]

  • My Baby Flew in Safe, Says Davido as His Maybach Car Arrives Nigeria | METROWATCH

    Superstar singer, David Adeleke aka Davido, has […]

  • PHOTOS: Sanwo-Olu Hosts Arsenal Star Bukayo Saka, Receives Signed Jersey | METROWATCH

    The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, […]

  • AANI Mourns Raymond Dokpesi, AIT Founder | METROWATCH

    By Ogochukwu Isioma The Alumni Association of the […]

  • Kogi: Gunmen Attack Yahaya Bello’s Convoy, Injure Security Aides | METROWATCH

    The Kogi Government on Saturday said the convoy […]

  • Why many Nigerian celebrities are in debt – BBTitans’ Jenni O | METROWATCH

    Former Big Brother Titans reality star, Jenni O, […]

  • Delta: Old Lagos-Asaba Road Named after Okowa as Ika Nation Welcomes Home Former Gov | METROWATCH

    By Collins Edomaruse   With pomp and pageantry, […]

  • Stop “Japa”, Engage More Youths in your Cabinet, Group urges Tinubu

    By Angela Atabo Connected Development (CODE) and […]

  • PHOTOS | Tinubu Commissions N’Assembly Central Mosque, Tasks Muslims on Humility | METROWATCH

    President Bola Tinubu on Friday, commissioned the […]

  • Alleged N2bn fraud: I was Not Arrested by EFCC — Ex-Women Affairs Minister, Tallen | METROWATCH

    A former Minister of Women Affairs and Social […]

  • About Us
  • Home

© 2022 THIS REPUBLIC By Shaka Momodu

No Result
View All Result
  • Right Of Reply
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • OpEds
  • Sports

© 2022 THIS REPUBLIC By Shaka Momodu

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Go to mobile version