The admission over the weekend that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) sold 82 vehicles for N5.8 million surprised members of the House of Representatives.
Chudi Offodile, the executive director of NIMASA's finance and administration division, revealed this information at the House Committee's resumed hearing, which is looking into how MDAs disposed of public property between 2010 and 2022. The hearing is being presided over by Julius Ihonvbere.
According to some documents provided by the agency, a Toyota Hilux (Grounded) with a market value of N300,000 was sold for N140,000, a Toyota Hilux (Accidental) with a market value of N200,000 was sold for N96,000, and a Toyota Hilux (Grounded) with a market value of N250,000 was sold at a forced liquidation/auction price of N95,000; a Honda Civic Saloon Car with a market value of N170,000
Additionally, two Toyota Hilux vehicles that were in the custody of Carbotage Consultant in Lagos at the time of inspection and valued at N1 million each were sold at N470,000 each during a forced liquidation/auction. Likewise, a Honda Civic vehicle valued at N210,000 was sold for N95,000, and a Honda City vehicle valued at N190,000 was sold for N80,000.
In addition, at the NIMASA office in Abuja, a Toyota Hilux with a market value of N500,000 was sold for N245,000; a Toyota Avensis with a market value of N300,000 was sold for N145,000; a Toyota Corolla with a market value of N300,000 was sold for N147,000; and two Honda Civics with a market value of N90,000 were sold for N30,000 each.
The 82 cars were sold off over a twelve-year span.
At the inquiry session, a few lawmakers wanted written proof of the money transferred into the CRF account in accordance with the Procurement Act, Progress of Crimes Act, and other recognised laws or financial regulations.
Offodile pretended not to be aware of the terms of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 regarding the payment of proceeds from the sale of public assets into the agency's coffers, but claimed that this was the case.
The committee chairperson expressed surprise that the majority of the automobiles shown in the panel's document did not seem outdated or inoperable.
A 13-year-old Toyota Hilux is not ancient to Nigerians, he added, adding that some of them appear to be brand-new.
He voiced doubt about the justification for placing an advertisement on March 29, 2022, requesting the sale of all the vehicles by forced liquidation or auction on March 30, 2022.
Ihonvbere emphasised that the procedure violated the current Public Procurement Act by disposing of public assets within 24 hours, saying that the action gives lawmakers the idea that it was a pre-arrangement.
He said that complaints against NIMASA alleging that the vehicles were sold to some of the agency's executives and employees are in the hands of the Ad-hoc Committee and claimed that the auctioneers the agency employed were only there to approve the phoney insider trade.
The committee consequently asked for a list of all the auctioneers, beneficiaries, and original costs of the vehicles, as well as letters of contract awarding the auctioneers the right to sell the assets at auction and the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
-By Abosede Ife |thetransporteronline24|Nigeria
