Having gone through several controversial sales agreements, the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and Mobile Telecommunications (MTEL), are still facing issues as the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA), have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revoke the transaction he approved last year. DAVID AGBA reports.
It was on August 18,2015 that President Muhammadu Buhari, ordered an inquest into the processes leading to the sale of moribund national carrier, Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and its mobile arm, Mobile Telecommunications (M-TEL) by the government of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after briefing President Buhari on the activities of the sector, then Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication & Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa said that the President has directed him to raise a memo on the whole transaction to ascertain if there were any underhand dealings. He also stated that the President was equally concerned about the quality of services rendered by the telecom operators in Nigeria.
Buhari, however, said the probe was not an indication he was opposed to the sale of the national carrier but to ensure there were no underhand practices in the process of the deal.
But, on March 11, 2016 the House of Representatives, gave the BPE a clean bill of health over the sale of ,NITEL, and it’s mobile network, Mtel to a consurtium of seven foreign and local firms NATCOM.
This was contained in the recommendations in the report of the Committees set up to investigate the sale at the Committee of the Whole House and it was adopted.
There had been allegations that almost all the telecommunications service providers in the country today were making use of the facilities of NITEL and MTEL.
The lawmakers were unanimous too that the probe takes a critical look at the country’s privatisation laws to immediately reverse the sales, insisting that there were needs “to ensure that these assets are returned to the real owners who are the Nigerian people.”
It would be recalled that in December 2014, NITEL and MTEL were sold to NATCOM for $242.3 million by BPE. However, the probe by the House had covered the period from year 2003.
The latest call for another probe of the sale of the organization is coming from the National President of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Aliyu Kiliya, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct another probe into the sale of NITEL/MTEL following criticisms that trailed the transaction.
Kiliya made the appeal in an open letter to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who is also the Chairman, National Council on Privatisation.
“The National Association of Auctioneers (NAA) as stakeholders filed a case in Bauchi Federal High Court against the liquidator, who was appointed by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE).
“We feel disappointed by the way and manner NITEL and MTEL sale was carried out.
“The items were supposed to be sold by open and competitive bidding, instead of secret bidding,” Kiliya argued.
He said the NAA is dismayed that despite the direction by the Federal High Court judge that status quo should be maintained, it was regretable that NETCOM has taken over the disposal of all the items of NITEL/MTEL nationwide, contravening the order that was given by the court.
“In this regard, we are appealing to your good office to as a matter of urgency, kindly stop immediately the sale of NITEL/MTEL as we believe that a lot of revenue is being looted, that is why they are rushing to sell and if this is allowed to happen a lot of revenue will be lost”, he said.
The NAA boss further argued that “If government is fighting corruption on one side and on the other is helping to encourage fraud without deterrent and setting example with them being penalized it will amount to double standard and aiding and abetting crime there by encouraging repetition of same fraud by bank owners, they should not be allowed or encouraged to use depositors funds for personal use or using government patronage and contacts close to government to suppress being penalized, this will encourage younger Nigerians to feel its ok to play smart on the system instead of following due process.
“There is also the issue of waver worth $750 million which after deducting the $252 million NATCOM offered for NITEL it will be that FGN gave out NITEL for free with some cash gift to their fronts.
Kiliya also expressed worry at Gen. TY Danjuma being used to cover their fraudulent tracks against Nigerians’ common wealth.
Nigerian business tycoon, Gen. Danjuma, was recently named Board Chairman by the NatCom Development & Investment Limited “NatCom”, trading as ntel. With General Danjuma as board chairman, former chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, becomes Vice Chairman.
