The Minister of Blue and Marine Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, shocked federal lawmakers when he asserted that a multi-billion-dollar cargo tracking agreement the federal government entered into regarding the International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) was fundamentally flawed.
Oyetola made this statement during questioning by a House of Representatives investigative panel probing the delays in implementing the cargo tracking project, which is estimated to cost the country $500 million monthly.
The hearing, convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Exercises, Customs, Port and Harbour, and Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, is examining the non-implementation of the contract.
Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State, was represented by Babatunde Sule, a director at the Ministry of Blue and Marine Economy, who confirmed the delays, stating that the process approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was flawed.
In March 2023, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari engaged a consortium led by Antaser Nigeria Limited to implement a cargo tracking system for all imports and exports, including crude oil exports.
However, following the change of government, it has been reported that some officials in the Bola Tinubu administration are trying to replace the Antaser-led consortium with their preferred investors under the guise of a PPP arrangement, involving the new Director-General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalwfoh.
Arepresentative of the minister, who had previously acknowledged the project’s approval by the FEC, later stated that this approval was granted in error.
He said, “I am aware of the contract. I know that it was awarded to five companies, of which four signed an agreement while the fifth did not, causing a complete halt to the process.
“The process itself was flawed. The approach that led to this was wrong,” he remarked as lawmakers expressed their disbelief.
“The handling of this process could have been much better,” Sule added, prompting whispers among some of his colleagues.
His responses led lawmakers to question his ability to adequately represent the minister as a committee member. Hon. Kabir Maipalace stated, “I don’t think you are qualified to represent the minister; you lack information about the issue.”
“The ministry is not taking this seriously. The minister and the permanent secretary are absent, and you here lack firsthand information.”
IIn his testimony, Antaser’s chairman, Emeka Obianozie, detailed how his company received approval to implement the project, including clearance from the Federal Executive Council.
He highlighted that under the current administration, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are attempting to create a similar service at a higher cost in the oil and gas sector.
“We informed the NCS of the initiative by the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Nigerian Customs Service to undertake part of ICTN’s scope at an excessive cost to the nation. We noted that these efforts, along with the ensuing complications, stem from the delay in actualizing the ICTN scheme.
“If such an underhanded move is permitted, it will lead to duplication, inefficiency, unnecessary expenses, and, most critically, it will undermine the transparency that is fundamental to the service scheme.”
Obianozie emphasized that his company’s contract with the government remains valid, asserting that the company “maintains over ninety-five percent (95%) global network outreach for trade monitoring and cargo inspections.”
