The Senate committee on the
Federal Capital Territory said yesterday that it will soon begin an
investigation into all the issues relating to the Concession and privatization
of some government property in the Federal Capital Territory to the tune of
N2.7 billion from the two last administrations.
The Senator Dino Melaye-led
comminittee described the entire process as a national disaster and leadership
failure.
The committee lamented that in
spite of the barrage of investments in the territory, the revenue portion on
these investments stood at zero over the years since 2008.
The Senate committee said it
would summon all the key players in the past governments that were responsible
for the concession and privatization of these property to private individuals
in the nation’s capital city.
Melaye spoke yesterday when the
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Malam Muhammad
Musa Bello and the entire leadership appeared before the senate committee.
Melaye said the Committee would
expose all those involved, even when it amounts to exhuming corpses of those
that are dead.
He said, ”It is worthy of note
that these FCT owned companies received huge returns on investment without
making returns to FCT Administration. The returns are in billions of Naira.
They are spent and re-invested without appropriation. This is contrary to the
principles of accountability and due process.
“The Committee is also worried
about the revenue line charge on investment income. The actual performance on
This charge has zero returns over The years.”
The concession and privatization
of these government property were done during former Presidents Olusegun
Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, under Nasir El- Rufai, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar;
Senator Bala Mohammed, among others.
Senator Melaye said, ”Let me say
that the abysmal performance of These concessioned properties in The FCT is
basically a direct consequence of leadership failure.
“By the twilight of Thye past
administrations in Nigeria, a plethora of discontentment on The exercise had
reached fever pitches. We as members of This Committee will continue to bridge
The meaning of our resolve with realiTies Through our oversight for effective
implementation.
“Permit me to comment on some of
the concessioned properties as follows:The Karu General Hospital was initially
a 222-bed facility built by the FCT Administration. It is important to note
that 40% of the Hospital is leased to Primus Super Specialty Hospital (an
Indian HoSpital) for management. The hospital commenced operation on 19th
April, 2017.
“THIS DAY DOME.Abuja Investment
Company Limited (AICL) was allocated Plot 702 Cadastral Zone A00, CBD, Abuja
and thereafter entered into two years Lease Agreement with leaders and company
popularly called “This Day Dome Arena” in respect of the said plot. The Lease
Agreement was effective from May 1, 2009. The total rent payable for the term
was N97,090,284:02.
“EAGLE SQUARE AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE (ICC), ABUJA.
“EAGLE SQUARE AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE (ICC), ABUJA.
“The Committee observed that the
Eagle Square and Abuja International Conference Centre were concessioned to the
same company who had no evidence of previous facility management experience
anywhere in the world, and without financial capacity to manage the facilities.
“This company had to fall back on
FCTA to buy new equipment to kick-start its operations. It is worthy of note
that the management of the two concessioned facilities makes millions of Naira
on a monthly basis since the commencement of its operations.
“GARKI HOSPITAL. Garki Hospital
was concessioned to Nisa Premier Hospital in partnership with Nisa Premier
Apeiron Consortium. It is pertinent to state that Garki Hospital was built to
provide affordable healthcare for residents of Garki District.
“The aim of providing the
facility was defeated as the management of the hospital now charges relativety
very high fees on patients due to concession of the hospital.
“The Committee frowns at this
misdemeanor. As representatives of the people, we hold it as a responsibility
to care md protect the people’s lives‘ worst harzard and misfortune specially
in a time like this.
“Time and time again, I wonder
deep in my heart why must it be Garki which hosts the lower and medium cadre
officers in the civil service. Why not Asokoro or Maitama Hospitals, which are
surrounded by high caliber of Nigerians from all walks of life.
“SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS.
Sheraton Hotel and Towers was incorporated on 16th January, 1981 as a private
liability company which later transformed into public liability company in
1990.
“The hotel was constructed by
Government with a loan of about $300 million (Three Hundred Million Dollars)
borrowed from a German Bank. The debt was eventually settled by Government
because there was a sovereign guarantee on it.
“The then Director-General of
Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mrs. Irene Chigbue, stated clearly during
the Investigative Public Hearing of this Committee in 2008 that Government
Agencies were invited to subscribe to the ownership of the company in which
Abuja Investment Limited was part of the subscribers.
“It is important to note that 87%
of the Federal Government shares of the hotel, that is 51% was sold to core
investors while other shareholders’ shares remain unchanged.
“It is worrisome to state that
Sheraton Hotel and Towers was privatized for $34 million (Thirty Four Million
Dollars) only.
“The Committee was reliably
informed that the 51% of the shares of the hotel was valued and sold for $34
million. This means that the total value of the hotel is less than $68 million.
“This figure is very ridiculous because
the hotel was constructed at a period when the Naira was stronger than the
dollar ($300m). Despite the hotel’s 20 years of operations (1982 2002), the
Return on Investment (ROI) was a negative quantity.Today, the facilities in the
hotel is depreciating by the day. The hotel is not well managed with many of
the rooms uninhabitable.
“NICON LUXURY. The sale of
Sofitel International Hotel which is also known as NICON Luxury Hotel followed
the same pattern as the Sheraton Hotel and Towers.
“The hotel was constructed in
1980. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, owns 92.5% of
the shares, FCDA owns 4.64%, NICON Insurance owns 01%. The remaining shares
were distributed accordingly.
“Committee noted as follows in
the course of its findings: That about $130m was spent in building the hotel;
That 90% of the shares were sold for only $50m as against $130m it took the
government to build the hotel: and That 19 million Euro was used for the
furnishing of the hotel, bringing the total estimated cost of the asset to $200
million.
“ABUJA INVESTNENT LIMITED (AIL)
Abuja Investment Limited is an investment company which houses all FCT owned
companies The companies include Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML) and
Abuja Investment Property Development Company (AIPDC).
“ABUJA GARDENS. The Committee has
no sufficient information about The concession of Abuja Gardens.”
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