On Tuesday, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, stunned federal lawmakers by admitting that a multi-billion-dollar cargo tracking agreement related to the International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) was executed in error. This admission was made during a session of the House of Representatives investigative panel, which was examining delays in the implementation of the cargo tracking project, estimated to cost Nigeria approximately $500 million monthly.
The hearing, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping, Customs, Port and Harbour, and Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, aimed to investigate the stalled contract. Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State, was represented by Babatunde Sule, a director in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Sule confirmed the delays, explaining that the process sanctioned by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was flawed.
In March 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had engaged a consortium led by Antaser Nigeria Limited to implement a cargo tracking system for all imports and exports, including crude oil. However, reports indicate that officials from Bola Tinubu’s administration are seeking to replace the Antaser-led consortium with preferred investors under the guise of a public-private partnership, utilizing the new Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalwfoh.
Sule acknowledged the FEC’s approval of the contract, stating, “I am aware of the contract. I am also aware that it was given to five companies. I learned that four of the companies signed an agreement, while the fifth did not, and I think that was what stalled this whole process. The process was even faulty ab initio. The process that led to this was wrong.” His comments prompted jeers from lawmakers, leading him to add, “The process could have been better than the way it was handled.”
Lawmakers expressed doubts about Sule’s ability to effectively represent the minister, with Hon. Kabir Maipalace stating, “I don’t think you are capable enough to represent the minister; you don’t even have any information about the issue. The ministry is not serious. The minister did not show up, the permanent secretary did not show up, and you do not have first-hand information.”
In his testimony, Antaser’s chairman, Emeka Obianozie, confirmed that his company had received the necessary approvals to implement the cargo tracking project, including endorsement from the Federal Executive Council. He raised concerns that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) were planning to initiate a similar service in the oil and gas sector at a higher cost, which could lead to unnecessary duplication and undermine the transparency intended by the ICTN scheme.
Obianozie emphasized that Antaser’s contract with the government remains valid, noting that his company maintains over 95% global network outreach for trade monitoring and cargo inspections.