Reps Panel Threatens Arrest of Top Agency Chiefs Over Port Concession Probe

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating concessioned ports and terminals, Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, has issued a stern warning to key government agencies and private operators accused of ignoring invitations to appear before the committee probing port concession agreements spanning nearly two decades.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the lawmaker said the committee would no longer tolerate what he described as deliberate attempts by some institutions to frustrate the investigation into Nigeria’s port concession regime from 2006 to 2025.

The committee, inaugurated on February 3 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, was tasked with examining concession agreements covering seaports, airports, terminals and related shipping activities.

The panel is also expected to determine whether the Federal Government has received the full financial benefits expected from those deals.

According to Akinlayo, the investigation was triggered by growing national concern about transparency, revenue accountability and the overall value derived from concessioning some of Nigeria’s most strategic national assets.

“These assets are not ordinary commercial facilities,” he said. “They are sovereign economic gateways, national security infrastructure and critical enablers of trade and development.”

However, more than a month into the probe, the committee said several key agencies have either failed to honour invitations or appeared without submitting critical documents required for the investigation.

Among the organisations listed as uncooperative are the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigeria LNG Limited, INTELS Nigeria Limited and Julius Berger Plc.

The committee chairman expressed disappointment that even agencies that had appeared before the panel, such as the Customs Service, allegedly failed to provide complete documentation requested by lawmakers.

He warned that the House would begin invoking its constitutional powers to compel compliance if the agencies continue to ignore the committee’s summons.

Citing Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, Akinlayo said the National Assembly has the authority to issue summons, enforce warrants and impose penalties on individuals or institutions that treat parliamentary investigations with contempt.

“We will not hesitate to subpoena any uncooperative CEO,” he declared. “If necessary, the Inspector-General of Police will be directed to arrest any head of agency that fails to honour our invitation.”

The lawmaker insisted that the committee’s investigation is not a witch-hunt but a national duty aimed at ensuring transparency in the management of critical infrastructure that drives Nigeria’s economy.

For millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods depend on trade, port efficiency and government revenue, the outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching consequences.

Port concessions introduced in 2006 were intended to modernise Nigeria’s ports, improve efficiency and increase government revenue through partnerships with private operators. Nearly twenty years later, lawmakers say Nigerians deserve to know whether those expectations were met.

“Citizens deserve to know if these concessions delivered value for money, protected public assets and contributed to economic growth and employment,” Akinlayo said.

He urged the agencies and companies involved to honour the committee’s invitations and fully cooperate with the investigation so the House can complete its assignment within the stipulated timeframe.See more, details. .