Reps move to intervene in $176bn customs modernization project, summons Emefiele, Hameed Ali

The House of Representatives has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali over the customs modernisation project.

The officials are to appear before the committees on customs, finance and banking and currency, who have been mandated to carry out an investigation into the E-Customs project.

The resolution followed a motion of matter of urgent public importance moved by Leke Abejide from Kogi State.

The Managing Director of Adani Mega System Limited and the Chairman CBN Technical Committee on CISS are also to appear before the committees.

The investigation is into the impasse between the federal government and Adani Mega System Limited over the project.

Abejide, in his motion, said the government is losing money from customs revenue because the project has stalled since 2017.

He informed the House that Adani Mega System Limited, who entered into the contract with Technical Committee on CISS had procured all needed equipment, but the government has reneged on its end.

“The level of engagement had reached the turning point whereby Adani Mega Systems Ltd had procured necessary equipment to commence the E-Customs projects as provided for in the contract but since 13th July, 2017, the project had stalled without a solution in sight, further causing tremendous revenue loss to the Federal Government which according to the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, had earlier appraised of having the potential of yielding Up to $176 billion throughout the 20 year concession period.”

The House directed that the committees should investigate the dispute and see how to make the project work.

The committees were given four weeks to investigate the matter.

Reps move to intervene in $176bn customs modernization project, summons Emefiele, Hameed Ali