NIMASA sells 82 vehicles for 5.8 million naira.

By Afolabi Oyekunle with agency report.

Members of the House of Representatives have expressed shock at the selling of 82 vehicles for 5.8million naira in 12 years by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) .

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An Executive director with NIMASA Chudi Offodile however said the sales followed due process.

Offodile revealed this at the resumption of the Committee investigating the disposal of public property by the Agencies between 2010 and 2022, chaired by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

Some documents presented by the agency obtained showed that Peugeot Expert Ambulance with market value of N200,000 was sold at forced liquidation/auction value of N95,000; Honda Civic Saloon Car with market value of N170,000 was sold at N76,500; Toyota Hilux (Grounded) with market value of N300,000 was sold at N140,000; another Toyota Hilux (Accidental) with market value of N200,000 was sold at N96,000 while another Toyota Hilux (Grounded) with market value of N250,000 was sold at N115,000.

Also, two units of Toyota Hilux which was at the time of inspection in the custody of Carbotage Consultant in Lagos put at N1 million market value, was sold at N470,000 each forced liquidation/auction value; Honda Civic put at N210,000 was sold at N95,000; Honda Civic put at N190,000 market value was sold at N80,000; among others.

Furthermore, at NIMASA office in Abuja, a Toyota Hilux put at N500,000 market value was sold at N245,000; Toyota Avensis put at N300,000 market value was sold at N145,000; Toyota Corolla put at N300,000 market value was sold at N147,000; two units of Honda Civic put at N90,000 market value were sold at N30,000 each; among others.

Some lawmakers who spoke during the investigative hearing, demanded for documentary evidence of funds remitted into the CRF account as provided by extant provisions of the Procurement Act, Proceed of Crimes Act, and other known legislations or financial regulations.

Offodile feigned ignorance of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 on the remittance of the funds generated from the sale of public assets but said the proceed of sales was paid by the Auctioneers into the agency’s coffers

The Committee’s chairman and House leader, Honourable Ihonvbere expressed surprise that most of the vehicles displayed in the document presented to the panel did not appear old or not in good condition.