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…as FRSC defend issuance of official number plates, say documents appeared authentic

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) on Thursday uncovered fresh contradictions in the alleged establishment of the body after the State House denied ever requesting a budget code for the council or having any knowledge of its existence.

The development came as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) defended its decision to issue seven official Federal Government number plates to the purported agency, insisting that it followed due process based on documents and representations it believed to be genuine at the time.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent establishment of the PFIPC and its reported inclusion in the Federal Government’s budget framework.

Representing the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Director of Administration, Abdulkadri Idris, told the committee that the Presidency never wrote to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) requesting a budget code for the council.

“I want to state that we did not send any correspondence nor any request to the Office of the Accountant-General in respect of this council. We don’t even know anything about this council. We never heard about this council until we started seeing it in the media,” he said.

Idris also rejected documents before the committee which purportedly originated from the State House, describing them as fake.

He explained that one of the letters was allegedly signed by an individual identified as “Akande Adewale”, described as Director of Administration and Support Services, a designation he said had never existed in the Presidency.

“I presented the list of Directors of Administration in the State House from 2003 to date, and there was no name resembling Akande Adewale.

“In addition, there is no department known as Directorate of Administration and Support Services in the State House. We have only the Department of Administration. Akande Adewale has never, ever been Director of Administration in the State House,” he said.

To support its position, the State House submitted official records previously forwarded to the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, including the list of past Directors of Administration and authentic State House letterheads.

Reacting to the testimony, Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi said the evidence exposed glaring inconsistencies between documents obtained from the Accountant-General’s Office and records from the Presidency.

“The State House has denied that it ever wrote any letter to the Accountant-General requesting for budget codes. Secondly, there is no Directorate of Administration and Support Services as contained in those documents.

“The Accountant-General responded to an office that the State House says does not exist, while the name of the signatory, Akande Adewale, is absent from all official records submitted to this committee,” Gagdi said.

He described the revelations as a significant breakthrough in the committee’s effort to determine how official government processes were allegedly manipulated.

The State House also denied issuing any appointment letter to the purported Director-General of the PFIPC, explaining that appointments of Directors-General are political appointments communicated through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

“If the President approves any appointment, the conveyance is done by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Idris added.

In a memorandum dated August 6, 2026, and signed by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the FRSC explained how seven official Federal Government number plates were issued to the PFIPC.

Mohammed said the Corps remained committed to professionalism, transparency and strict compliance with established procedures in processing requests for official government vehicle registration.

He explained that every ministry, department or agency seeking official number plates must submit a formal application, which is verified through the head of the requesting institution, while newly created agencies are expected to provide their enabling law or other legal instruments.

According to him, because the PFIPC claimed to be a newly established federal agency, the FRSC subjected its request to additional scrutiny.

The Corps Marshal said the application process began with a letter dated April 4, 2025, signed by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi on behalf of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, requesting official government number plates.

A follow-up reminder dated April 11, 2025, was later received, accompanied by documents outlining the council’s mandate and a schedule of vehicles for registration.

Mohammed disclosed that Adeyemi personally delivered the request to the FRSC headquarters.

He added that officers also visited the website provided by the applicant, which carried a Federal Government domain name and listed several senior government officials as members of the council’s governing board.

The Corps further carried out a physical inspection of the office located at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Second Floor, Central Business District, Abuja, where officials found the office fully operational.

“Having completed the foregoing verification processes and being satisfied with the information presented, the Corps approved and allocated seven Official Federal Government Vehicle Number Plates to the Agency,” Mohammed said.

The vehicles included a 2024 bulletproof Lexus LX, two Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicles and four Toyota Hilux vehicles, which were assigned official registration numbers ranging from PFIPC 01 to PFIPC 07 after verification of their chassis numbers.

Mohammed, however, said the Corps was later taken aback when it became clear that the PFIPC was not a recognised Federal Government agency.

“It therefore came as a profound shock to the Corps when it subsequently emerged that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was not an approved Federal Government Agency and that the representations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi were false,” he stated.

He disclosed that the FRSC had already begun the process of retrieving the seven official number plates issued to the agency and had strengthened its internal verification procedures to prevent a recurrence.

During the hearing, Gagdi questioned aspects of the verification process after observing that the documents relied upon by the Corps lacked standard Federal Government security features and unusually listed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and several serving ministers as members of the council’s governing board.

“Does this look normal to you?” Gagdi asked.

Responding, the Corps Marshal admitted: “No, not at all.”
He nevertheless maintained that the Corps acted based on the information available at the time, including the existence of an operational office, official-looking documents, a government-domain website and successful verification of the vehicles presented for registration.

The committee subsequently directed the FRSC to provide the current status and location of all vehicles registered under the PFIPC as investigations continue.

Gagdi also announced that the committee will conclude its investigation next Wednesday, directing the committee clerk to invite all relevant agencies to appear for the final phase of the inquiry.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will construct additional modern bus and taxi terminals across Abuja to eliminate illegal motor parks, enhance passenger safety and modernise the nation’s capital.

Mr Chinedum Elechi, Mandate Secretary, FCTA Transportation Secretariat, said this on Thursday on Abuja while briefing newsmen on the operationalisation of the Mabushi and Central Business District bus and taxi terminals.

Elechi reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transforming the Federal Capital Territory into a world-class city through ongoing transport projects and future budgetary provisions for additional terminals.

He addressed concerns over the reliance on informal loading points, including Berger and Area 1 roundabouts, saying the shift to centralised terminals was necessary for security, orderliness and efficiency.

“We are building these in strategic locations. The terminals in Kugbo and Mabushi are purely designed for intercity travel.

“Whether a passenger is traveling to Aba, Lokoja, Owerri, or Sokoto, they need a safe, secure, and comfortable environment to board.

“You cannot guarantee what happens when you board a bus at an ad-hoc arrangement, which has contributed to the ‘one-chance’ security challenges,” he said.

He explained that the initial phase focused on key terminals in Mabushi, Kugbo and the Central Business District, with the latter designed primarily to serve intracity transportation needs.

According to him, more terminals have already been captured in the administration’s expansion plans under the leadership of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Comparing Abuja’s urban renewal efforts with global standards and regional examples, Elechi said cities such as Lagos had successfully transformed chaotic transit points into organised transportation hubs.

“I have traveled all over the world, and even right here on our doorstep, cities are tidying up. If Lagos could transform the madness of Oshodi into modern transport hubs, why shouldn’t the FCT be tidied up?” he said.

The mandate secretary explained that the terminals would function as primary transport hubs linked through structured last-mile services using designated bus shelters, taxis and e-hailing platforms.

“We cannot put a bus terminal in everybody’s backyard, just as we cannot put an airport everywhere.

“The terminals serve as primary hubs. When passengers return from a 12-hour journey from Aba or elsewhere, the last-mile network will safely convey them from the hub to their final destinations.

“Whether through local buses, taxis or private pickups, the system is designed to ensure passengers complete their journeys safely and conveniently,” he said.

Elechi urged commuters and transport operators to embrace the new facilities as the administration continued expanding modern transportation infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.

He reassured residents that the objective of the initiative was to guarantee public safety, maintain a clean city environment and establish an efficient and reliable transit system.

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…direct ministry to submit relevant documents by  August 18

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education has given the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, a final opportunity to personally appear before lawmakers on September 17, 2026, warning that further legislative action could follow if he fails to honour the invitation.

The committee also directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all documents relating to the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme on or before August 18, 2026.

The resolutions were reached during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday after lawmakers expressed frustration over the minister’s repeated absence despite several official invitations.

Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda, said members were disappointed that neither the minister nor any representative of the ministry attended the hearing, describing the situation as unacceptable.

He disclosed that the committee had been seeking information on the implementation of the TVET programme for more than a year.

Laguda said: “We have written several correspondences starting from January 30, 2025, seeking information on the activities of Technical Vocational Education Training being implemented by the government. The last invitation was on July 30, but the minister is not here and no representative was sent to the committee”.

He noted that the committee had always maintained a cordial working relationship with the ministry, adding that the latest development came as a surprise.

Laguda reminded the ministry that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of ministries, departments and agencies as part of its oversight responsibilities.

The minister’s absence drew sharp criticism from members of the committee, with some describing it as a slight on the authority of Parliament.

Rep. Rabiu Yusuf accused the minister of showing what he described as “a high level of disrespect” to the legislature and moved a motion for a vote of no confidence against him.

“This communication was neither acknowledged nor responded to. Information requested by the committee was not provided. We can rightly assume that there is a high level of disrespect to the institution of the legislative body by the executive, particularly the Minister of Education. I think it is high time for us to pass a vote of no confidence on the minister,” Yusuf said.

Also speaking, Rep. Bayo Adepoju described the minister’s conduct as unacceptable.

“This is rude, unacceptable, and something that should not happen in a democracy. We are constitutionally empowered to conduct oversight on ministries, departments, and agencies. Nobody is above Parliament. After six letters to the ministry, the minister has still failed to appear. Nigerians deserve to know how this programme is being implemented,” he said.

However, some lawmakers urged restraint.

Rep. Paul Kalejaiye appealed to his colleagues to give the minister one final opportunity before taking disciplinary action.

“This is the first time we are making a public pronouncement on him. We should give the honourable minister another chance by issuing him an ultimatum and fixing a date to appear before this committee before we pass a vote of no confidence,” Kalejaiye said.

Adepoju also backed the proposal for a final opportunity, maintaining that although the minister’s absence was unacceptable, the committee should allow the ministry one last chance to comply.

Supporting the position, Laguda said he had previously enjoyed a productive working relationship with the minister and was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“I’ve had engagements with the minister in the past. I don’t see him as someone who would deliberately do this. Maybe there are reasons for it, but whatever is responsible, this definitely should not happen again,” he said.

The committee subsequently directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all requested documents relating to the TVET programme to its secretariat no later than August 18, 2026.

It also adjourned the investigative hearing to September 17, 2026, directing the minister to appear in person and provide a comprehensive account of the programme’s implementation from inception to date.

Announcing the committee’s decision, Laguda said: “We are using this platform to request from the ministry to supply the committee with the necessary information that has been requested from inception to date. The submission of this information should be made available to the secretariat by the 18th of August.

“We are adjourning this meeting with the Minister and the Ministry of Education to the 17th of September, and we hope that the minister will be present on the new date given.”

The committee said the documents are essential to enable lawmakers scrutinise the implementation of the TVET initiative and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources allocated to technical and vocational education across the country.