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Reps Committee Warns MDAs Over Failure to Appear in Ports Concession Probe
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…say missing documents stalling investigation
By Gloria Ikibah
The Chairman of the House of Representatives AdHoc Committee investigating Concessioned Ports And Terminals, Rep. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, has issued a stern warning to several federal agencies and companies accused of failing to cooperate with the ongoing probe into concession agreements covering Nigeria’s air and sea terminals.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Rep. Akinlayo said the committee, was inaugurated on 3 February 2026 by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and mandated to examine the performance and benefits accruing to the Federal Government from concession arrangements between 2006 and 2025.
He explained that the committee was tasked with reviewing the terms and conditions of concession agreements, assessing revenue flows and remittances to government agencies, evaluating compliance with regulatory and safety obligations, and examining the impact of the concessions on infrastructure development, operational efficiency and labour conditions.
“These assets—our seaports, airports, terminals and jetties—are not ordinary commercial facilities.
“They are sovereign economic gateways, national security infrastructure, and critical enablers of trade, mobility and development,” Akinlayo said.
The lawmaker, however, expressed frustration over what he described as the reluctance of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to appear before the committee or submit requested documents.
Akinlayo also noted that while some stakeholders had cooperated, others had repeatedly ignored invitations from the committee or failed to provide complete documentation.
“More than one month into this onerous assignment, we have been faced with the daunting challenge of compelling relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to appear and provide the necessary and required information to enable the Committee completes its work within the stipulated time.
“For example, the Nigerian Customs Service had appeared before us but disappointedly failed to comply fully with our requests,” he added.
He further warned that several agencies and organisations must immediately change their approach to the investigation or face constitutional sanctions.
Those mentioned include 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 Nigeria Plc.
He emphasised that the committee will invoke its constitutional powers if the agencies continued to disregard parliamentary invitations.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to give the last warning to the chief executive officers and heads of the following agencies to change their attitude towards the committee or have themselves to blame.
“I wish to state without mincing words that this Committee will not hesitate to subpoena any disrespectful and uncooperative CEO or head of MDAs.
“We will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of MDAs that fails to honour our invitation,” he said.
According to committee chairman, the legislature is empowered under Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to issue summons, warrants and sanctions in the course of exercising its oversight functions.
Rep. Akinlayo insisted the investigation was not intended to target any organisation but to ensure accountability in the management of critical national assets.
According to him, the probe will help determine whether the concession arrangements had delivered value to the country.
“We are not witch-hunting anybody or organisation but the mandate given to us by the House must be accomplished and in doing so, we will not spare any CEO or officer or individual or group that have resolved to treat the parliament with contempt.
“Nigerians deserve to know whether these concessions have delivered value for money, complied with contractual obligations, enhanced national competitiveness, protected public assets, and contributed meaningfully to economic growth, employment and revenue generation,” he said.
The committee therefore appealed to the affected agencies and organisations to respond promptly to the committee’s invitations, stressing that the investigation must be concluded within the stipulated timeframe.
Responding to questions from journalists if a preliminary investigation was carried out, Rep. Akinlayo said the committee had so far only conducted preliminary engagements with agencies and stakeholders within the port concession ecosystem.
He explained that most concessionaires have submitted documents requested by the committee, but the materials were incomplete.
According to him, the committee cannot begin substantive work on the probe because key government agencies have yet to produce documents covering nearly two decades of concession arrangements.
“What we’ve done thus far was after our inauguration, we’ve had an interactive session with all the agencies and all the stakeholders in that ecosystem.
“What we’ve realised was all the post-concessionaire have submitted all documents that are requested from them.
“Although a majority of them also made our submission because we requested documents from 2006 to 2025,” he explained.
However, he noted that many of the submissions only covered a much shorter period.
“But we realised that a majority of them submitted documents from 2020 to 2025, claiming they don’t have those other documents that they’ve crashed or whatever.
“But we insisted that those documents must be submitted to us before we can commence our work.
“The interaction we had with them was when we invited the agency to come, they came. The NPA was represented by a GM of the agency and some other organisations”, he stated.
Akinlayo explained that the committee had made its mandate clear during those meetings.
“So, we spoke to them and we told them this is our mandate. Our mandate is to examine and project the agreement signed between the federal government and the concessionaire,” he said.
The key question, he added, is whether the agreements have benefited the country.
“How is that agreement? How is it profitable to Nigerian people? Is there any loss of revenue? So, that’s our major concern,” he said.
He stressed that the committee particularly requires records from the Nigerian Ports Authority, which he described as the principal custodian of the country’s port infrastructure.
“But what we’ve realised thus far is the NPA is the major custodian of ports. The port is under the purview of NPA.
“So, we want MPA to furnish with all the documents from 2006 to 2025. Without that, we can’t carry out our purpose,” Akinlayo said.
He added that the committee intends to broaden its investigation to include airport terminals once the port review has commenced.
“What about the airport? We are here to even commence work at the airport. So, our major work for now is to commence work on the terminals, port terminals,” Akinlayo said.
Responding to concerns that current agency heads may not have access to documents relating to agreements signed before they assumed office, Akinlayo dismissed the argument.
“Government is not built around an individual. Government is confidence. So, when you hold an office, a trust for the people, you know someday you will leave that office,” he said.
He said public officials must understand that their actions while in office could be scrutinised long after their tenure ends.
“And whatever actions or duty you carry out while in that office will be examined one day,” he said.
Akinlayo maintained that claims by current officials that they were not in office when earlier decisions were taken would not excuse them from cooperating with the investigation.
“For them to say that because they are not in the office where the act was perpetrated, that is not acceptable to us at this point,” he said.
He insisted that the agencies must locate the required records through official channels.
He also pointed out that government institutions maintain archival systems where such records should be stored.
“Because everything that happens, if you can provide, you should be able to give us somebody that can give us those documents,” he said.
The United States and Iran agreed on a peace deal and an “immediate and permanent” end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, mediator Pakistan said, in the strongest sign yet that more than three months of war in the Middle East is drawing to a close.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X that a peace deal “has been REACHED” and an official signing ceremony will be held on June 19 in Switzerland.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” US President Donald Trump swiftly confirmed with his own statement on Sunday, as he marked his 80th birthday.
“I hereby fully authorise the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and, simultaneously herewith, authorise the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”
There was no immediate confirmation from Iran, which just hours earlier had vowed to retaliate against a strike by Israel against Iranian ally Hezbollah in the suburbs of Beirut, which threatened to push back an agreement.
It had declined on Sunday to offer a clear timeline for reaching a peace deal.
But later in the day, Pakistan’s Sharif made the announcement that a deal had been struck, thanking the US and Iran “for finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict.”
Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Sharif wrote, adding thanks to leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for their support in the mediation effort.
It was a rollercoaster Sunday, with Trump in the morning angrily blaming Israel for delaying its signing with the airstrike on Beirut, which he said had delayed the agreement.
The last time Israel hit the Beirut suburbs, it sparked one of the strongest jolts yet to a ceasefire that has largely held since April, with Iran firing off a retaliatory missile barrage and Israel responding with strikes.
Tehran has long demanded that any agreement to halt the war must include the parallel conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been pursuing a campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The war began in late February, with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated with attacks on Israel and US allies in the region, and by virtually blocking ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and natural gas supplies. The US retaliated to that by blockading ship traffic to Iranian ports.
Prices of oil fell sharply in Asian trading on Monday after the United States and Iran announced an agreement that would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, ending more than 100 days of disruption to one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
At the time of reporting, Brent crude was down by nearly 4 percent at $83.67 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined to $80.76 per barrel.
The latest drop extends a downward trend that has emerged in recent weeks amid growing speculation that a diplomatic breakthrough was imminent despite continued military escalations.
As a result, the petrol price is seen falling below N1000 per litre after many weeks of inflated prices at filling stations across Nigeria.
Analysts say the price will likely settle between N850 and N915 when the Strait finally re-opens and ships begin ferrying fuel supplies, easing pressure on the domestic market while helping to stabilise costs.
The breakthrough was announced on Sunday night when President Trump stated on social media that negotiations with Iran had been concluded.
He said oil would once again move through the Strait of Hormuz once the agreement is formally signed on Friday.
Iran also signaled its approval of the arrangement.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that both sides had finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding, adding that a formal signing ceremony is scheduled to take place in Switzerland later this week.
The agreement was further validated by Pakistan and Qatar, which served as the principal mediators throughout the negotiations.
Although the full terms have not been officially released, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, citing a source close to the country’s negotiating team, reported that the deal includes an end to the conflict in Lebanon, the suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and assurances that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons.
According to the report, sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds will occur during a ceasefire period. Mehr also indicated that Iran could gain access to $12 billion before broader negotiations commence.
For energy markets, one of the most significant provisions is the resumption of Iranian crude exports during the proposed 60-day ceasefire while talks on nuclear issues continue.
The diplomatic progress nearly unravelled shortly before the announcement after Israel launched an air strike in southern Beirut. Trump criticised the operation, saying it “should not have happened,” and subsequently urged all parties to de-escalate.
He also called for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks across Lebanon.
Despite optimism surrounding the agreement, market participants remain cautious. Traders are expected to closely monitor the removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz, the formal signing of the accord, and the restoration of normal shipping activity before fully embracing expectations of supply normalisation.
After more than three months of conflict, investors are increasingly pricing in the prospect of peace and a gradual return to stability in global oil markets. However, questions remain over the durability of the agreement and how quickly normal trade flows can be restored.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has approved a three-month extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026.
The decision was taken during an emergency sitting held on Monday, as lawmakers moved swiftly to ensure the continued execution of capital projects captured in the national budget.
The legislation, which seeks to amend the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) Act, 2025, was designed to provide additional time for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to complete ongoing projects and fully utilise funds earmarked for capital expenditure.
In an unusually rapid legislative process, the bill passed through its first, second and third readings during the same plenary session after members suspended the relevant provisions of the House Standing Orders to facilitate its consideration.
Leading debate on the general principle of the bill, House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, said the extension was necessary as several capital projects captured in the 2025 budget had not been fully implemented.
He emphasised that the amendment was not intended to alter any provision of the budget but merely to extend its lifespan by three months to allow ongoing projects to be completed.
He said: “It is very straightforward. Because some aspects of the capital appropriation will not be fully implemented, if we do not extend the life of this particular law, it will have a very grave impact on the growth and development of the national economy.
“The purpose essentially is to extend the lifespan. We are not touching any part of the law. It is simply extending the lifespan from June 30, 2026 to September 30, 2026. I urge my colleagues to approve this so that we can continue with the work of developing and growing our economy and country”.
Presiding over the session, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, acknowledged that the records provided by the Chairman House Committee on Appropriations and other relevant agencies revealed that implementation of the capital budget was yet to be completed.
“As you are aware, the 2025 budget was extended to June 30. From the records we received from the Chairman, Appropriations, and other relevant quarters, it is yet to be fully implemented. It is therefore in the best interest of this country and the National Assembly for us to extend the budget to September 30 to enable the Federal Government fulfil its obligations under the 2025 budget,” the Speaker said.
Following the adoption of the bill at second reading, the House dissolved into the Committee of Supply where it had the clause by clause consideration of the bill, and approved the three clauses, explanatory memorandum and long title of the bill.
The committee subsequently reported back to plenary, where lawmakers adopted its recommendations and suspended House rules to allow the bill to be read a third time and passed the same day.
The accelerated passage reflects growing concern over the pace of implementation of key infrastructure and development projects, many of which require additional time to reach completion.
With the approval, government agencies now have until the end of September to execute projects funded under the capital component of the 2025 budget, a move expected to prevent disruptions to ongoing works and improve budget performance.
The extension is also aimed at ensuring that resources already allocated for development projects are effectively utilised before the capital budget expires.
With the passage of the amendment, federal ministries, departments and agencies now have an additional three months to implement capital projects and utilize funds appropriated under the 2025 budget.
Meanwhile, the House also announced changes in the leadership of some standing committees.
The appointments are as follows:
• Rep. Ali Madaki – Chairman House Committee on Special Duties
• Rep. Ali Isa J.C. – Chairman House Committee on Shipping Services,
• Rep. Pascal Agbodike – Chairman House Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN),
• Rep. Kelechi Nwogu – Chairman House Committee on Hydrological Services
The Speaker urged the newly appointed committee chairmen to assume their responsibilities immediately and bring their legislative experience to bear in advancing the work of the House.
Finally, US-Iran deal announced with end to military warefare
Price of petrol expected to drop to N900 per litre as US-Iran opens way for Strait of Hormuz
2025 Capital Budget Gets New Lease of Life as Reps Push Deadline to September
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