The House of Representatives at the Wednesday plenary session, unveiled plans to conduct comprehensive investigation into the alleged multi-million contract scandal in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
To this end, the House mandated the joint committees on Defence, Army and Public Procurement, to carry out a comprehensive investigation and report back within two weeks, for further legislative action.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of Urgent National Importance, sponsored by Tajudeen Yusuf, chairman, House Committee on Capital Market and other Institutions.
In his lead debate, Yusuf (PDP-Kogi) explained that the media space has been awash with an alleged duplication, misappropriation and mismanagement of a multi-million naira contract in the Ministry of Defence.
He noted that “some high ranking appointees and officials in the Ministry of Defence were allegedly involved in the contract scam that had gone viral and was not in sync with the efforts of the Federal Government to fight corruption.
“The contract was for the relocation and refurbishment of Level 2 Hospital under the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.
“The Level 2 Hospitals which are funded by the United Nations and awarded to countries who contribute troops/ police to global peace missions, carry out limited surgeries including life, limb and organs, on officers and men on military duties.
“The scandal blew open following United Nations directive that Nigeria should move the Level 2 Hospital from its present temporary camp at the Timbuktu airport in Mali, to the more secure new UN Super Camp also in Timbuktu.
“In a desperate bid to cover its tracks, the Ministry of Defence in February 2017 allegedly awarded a contract for the refurbishing and relocation of the Hospital to a Contractor who had zero experience in installation of Level 2 Hospital,” the Kogi lawmaker informed the House.
Yusuf noted that the ministry also flouted procurement guidelines of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) after getting presidential approval.
“Nigeria has been asked to withdraw its remaining contingent to the United Nations African Mission in Darfur, consequent to its not meeting the UN’s August 2017 deadline for the relocation of the Hospital to a new location.
“The shady deals allegedly perpetuated by top functionaries in the Ministry of Defence, have led to Nigeria losing the deployment of Level 2 Hospital to Rwanda as directed by the UN.
“Due to the selfish and greedy antics of some officials at the Ministry, of Defence, Nigeria has gone down from No. 5 to No. 9 in troops contributing country global rating and dropping from No 1 to No. 5 in Africa and in the African Union,” he said.
