SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s House of Representatives has uncovered over $33bn commercial contracts signed by successive governments through the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Ossai Nicholas disclosed this during the resumed investigative hearing on the review of bilateral loan agreements and commercial contracts agreements by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.
Ossai who frowned at the misconceptions and misgivings on the ongoing Legislative scrutiny of various agreements, alleged that public officials response for the facility are only desperate to obtain the loan without proper scrutiny of the agreements.
The chairman stressed that commercial contracts process signed by the Federal Ministry of Transport alone is over $33bn without any clear cut financing arrangements. According to him, there are observable issues relating to procurement process, evidences of fifteen percent advanced payments, payment of management fees among other many issues.
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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who differed with the position of the Chairman of the Committee noted that the $1.6bn were awarded for Lagos-Ibadan rail by President Buhari and $1.8bn signed by President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
According to Amaechi, out of the $1.6bn rail contract, the Chinese government is to provide $1.2bn, adding that two training institutions are being built in Idu-Abuja and Daura-Katsina State from the facility.
Amaechi also challenged Ossai to provide the documents on the $33bn contracts as alluded to in his speech.
