Tension in the House as Minister Oyetola Claims Cargo Tracking Agreement Signed in Error
A dramatic scene unfolded in the House of Representatives on Monday as Gboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Blue and Marine Economy, claimed that the federal government’s multi-billion-dollar cargo tracking agreement was fundamentally flawed.
Oyetola made these remarks during an inquiry led by a House committee investigating delays in the International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) project, which is reportedly costing Nigeria $500 million each month. The committee, which focuses on shipping, customs, and maritime safety, is probing the reasons behind the stalled implementation of this crucial project.
Represented by Babatunde Sule, a director in the ministry, Oyetola cited issues with the process approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), stating it was riddled with errors. He highlighted that the previous administration, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had entered into a contract with a consortium led by Antaser Nigeria Limited for the tracking system, which includes oversight for both imports and exports.
Since the transition to the current administration, there have been claims that officials close to President Bola Tinubu are seeking to replace this consortium with new investors under a public-private partnership, leveraging the new Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewaleifoh.
Earlier this year, the government announced plans to procure advanced technology for tracking crude oil exports, a deal presented by Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri. However, Oyetola’s representative later indicated that the approval process itself was flawed, prompting laughter and disbelief from committee members.
Sule acknowledged that a contract had been awarded to five companies, but claimed that the process had significant shortcomings. His remarks led some lawmakers to question his competence and ability to represent the minister effectively, with one member expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of information provided.
Frank Tietie, director of Citizens Advocacy for Social Justice, pointed out past issues with the procurement process, highlighting that earlier attempts to involve companies outside their expertise had been scrapped after widespread criticism.
During the hearing, Emeka Obianozie, chairman of Antaser, defended his company’s contract and warned against attempts by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to implement a similar service, which he claimed would incur unnecessary costs and risk compromising transparency.
The session was nearly derailed by Oyetola’s absence, prompting a recess until he arrived. When Finance Minister Wale Edun appeared, lawmakers insisted only Oyetola could address them, leading to tensions in the room.
The committee concluded the session with plans for further hearings to explore the issues raised by various stakeholders.
