FILE PHOTO
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on Tuesday stunned the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, probing the contract meant to provide coastal security surveillance for Nigerian waters when it said that it has no records of the approval it gave to a foreign company, HSL International Limited, for the $195 million Deep Blue Contract, which was awarded in 2017.
Director-General of the Agency, Mahman Adamu, made the declaration when he appeared before the Committee at the resumed hearing of the probe
Adamu, who spoke through a Director in the Agency, Engr Isaiah Yesufu, said though they issued the Certificate of No Objection to the company, they did not keep any records as every document relating to the matter was sent to the Ministry of Transport.
In his response to a question that the company was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), he said Section 16 of the Procurement Act permits international companies to participate in the country’s procurement process so long as they have the capacity as specified by the provision.
Consequently, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Yusuf Gagdi, demanded procurement documents to show to the extent the company met up with the expectations according to law, but Adamu said the agency does not have the records.
However, this response did not go down well with the members of the Committee and wondered how an agency like the BPP would not have records of such a project.
They said it showed a lack of efficiency and was also an indication that something was wrong.
At this stage, one of the members of the Committee, Hon Sam Onuigbu said, “This is a serious business. When you look at honourable members here from diverse backgrounds and you come to tell us that an office, the basic function of an office is a place where documents are kept for easy retrieval, you are saying now because you handled it and you have given it out, so how about is someone else comes to ask, so you will be going to each Ministry.
“Have you listened to yourself to know if you are truly talking to us or to other Nigerians? Because for me, you are making it look like this is not a serious business. You cannot say that. What you said is totally unacceptable.”
Speaking on the matter, the Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, said that following the need to enhance the security of the waterways, he had obtained approval from the President and the BPP for the project.
He said after the contract was secured, it was transferred to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for implementation.
Amaechi however disclosed that security along the waters has improved following the project.
NIMASA was however absent at the meeting and the Committee Chairman, Gagdi, said the agency would be expected to explain every payment on the project at the next sitting.
The Commission however insisted that the BPP must produce the relevant documents pertaining to the contract at the next sitting.
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