- It is inexplicable that items imported with public funds are left uncleared for years
In a political landscape abounding with abandoned projects, the report of some 70 containers ordered by Jigawa and Delta states but abandoned at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT) would ordinarily not rankle. Yet, the report highlights the scourge of criminal irresponsibility by those saddled with the function of public procurement, a phenomenon that has hobbled the nation’s development efforts.
According to newspaper report, 50 containers packed with tricycles belonging to the Jigawa State Government, and another 20 containing building equipment, belonging to the Delta State Government, have been lying at the terminal for close to two years. To underscore the pervasive nature of the scourge, the report also fingers the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as having turned the terminal into its warehouse, with its 100 containers loaded with electricity equipment. Indeed, acting assistant comptroller-general of customs in charge of Zone A, Charles Edike, on a visit went beyond bemoaning the situation to give the consignees up till December 31, to remove the overtime cargoes or forfeit them to the Federal Government.
Nearly two years ago, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had, in its bid to free up the space, moved a total of 2,279 overtime containers from the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, to the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT). The measure was said to have become necessary after the owners of the consignments failed to claim them long after the 90-day maximum period expected for their clearance. Now, it appears that the problem has merely shifted inland – away from the ports complex.
The issue of the abandoned containers obviously raises a number of questions – all of them bordering on the failure of institutions of government. One of course imagines that Letters of Credit were duly established for the consignments. In the circumstance, the officials would have been duly notified of the time of arrival at the ports. That being the case, how come the officials neither bothered to track the movement of the goods nor make provisions for their clearance? Could it be that the relevant bills of laden were not despatched to the consignees or a simple case of official negligence – a case of the goods belonging to the government and to no one in particular? To the extent that the funds for the procurement came from the treasury, how come there was no oversight on the entire process?
The story of the Jigawa containers merely underscores the challenge highlighted above. According to the spokesman of the government, Bello Zaki, the tricycles were actually ordered by the former administration of Governor Sule Lamido. While admitting that the issue of the containers was actually contained in the hand-over notes of the out-gone administration, he however insisted that the current administration in the state was only notified of the arrival of the containers in July. If we may ask, what is the job of the bureaucracy if not to handle routine tasks such as clearance and delivery of such consignments?
We must say that the case of the defunct PHCN is even more inexplicable. Imagine that one of the most strident complaints by the PHCN was dearth of vital spares and equipment; now imagine that the very equipment ordered to ameliorate the situation could not be retrieved after arriving at the ports for whatever reasons. Some things clearly can’t seem to add up here. The situation, in our view, calls for a thorough investigation. We suggest that the Federal Government take immediate custody of the assets to prevent damage – assuming that they are not already damaged.
As for the Delta State government, mum has been the word – which is quite surprising. If for nothing, we expect that the state house of assembly should take more than a passing interest in finding out the state of the assets purchased with taxpayers’ money; it should help shed light on why these consignments are left to waste at the lighter terminal. As representatives of the people, it is the least the legislators can do.
