e-Customs: Buhari urged to halt access to $300m fund

The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON) yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any “hasty” attempt to access $300m from the Comprehensive Import Service Scheme/Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (CISS/NESS) accounts of the e-Customs project. National Coordinator, FONGON, Wole Badmus, made the call at a press conference in Abuja yesterday. He described the “desperation” […]

The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON) yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any “hasty” attempt to access $300m from the Comprehensive Import Service Scheme/Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (CISS/NESS) accounts of the e-Customs project.

National Coordinator, FONGON, Wole Badmus, made the call at a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

He described the “desperation” to access the CISS/NESS accounts before the end of the current administration as “quite suspicious.”

He said, “At the FEC briefing of 19th of April 2023, the Hon Minister of State for Finance, Clem Agba, informed the nation that Trade Modernisation Project Limited is the new concessionaire and that they’ve already signed the term sheet for the $300m first phase, but failed to tell the nation that the Nigeria Customs Service has already written to the HMOF requesting Trade Modernisation Project Limited to be included in the payment platform to commence draw down on the CISS/NESS accounts in clear violation of the presidential directive.

NDDC railway project will stimulate economic activities in N/ Delta – IYC

NDDC railway project will stimulate economic activities in Niger Delta – IYC

“The clear implication is that the so-called new concessionaire will make no investment but depend on the CISS/NESS account.

“We ask the EFCC to move fast and restrain illegal depletion and withdrawals from the CISS/ NESS accounts of the Nigeria Customs Service.