The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the performance and benefits the Federal Government derives from concessionaire-run ports has threatened to use its constitutional powers to compel government agencies to appear before it for questioning.
The committee therefore warned the chief executives of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to take advantage of what it described as a final opportunity to appear before the panel or face the consequences.
Speaking with journalists on Friday in Abuja, the committee chairman, Kolawale Akinlayo, criticised the response of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the invitations issued by the panel. He warned that failure to provide the requested documents could hinder the committee’s work.
The Ad-Hoc Committee was inaugurated on February 3, 2026 by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas. Its mandate includes reviewing the terms and conditions of port concession agreements signed between 2006 and 2025, evaluating revenue remittances and other financial benefits accruing to the Federal Government and its agencies, and examining whether concessionaires have complied with contractual, regulatory and safety requirements.
Other tasks assigned to the panel include assessing infrastructural development, operational efficiency, service delivery and labour-related issues within the concession framework. The committee is also expected to identify existing gaps and systemic weaknesses and propose practical recommendations for improving policies, legislation and future concession arrangements.
According to Akinlayo, the committee was set up “In response to growing national concern over the management, performance, transparency, and value outcomes of concession arrangements governing some of Nigeria’s most strategic public assets.
“These assets—our seaports, airports, terminals, and jetties—are not ordinary commercial facilities; they are sovereign economic gateways, national security infrastructure, and critical enablers of trade, mobility, and development.”
He explained that since the exercise began, “Members of the committee have approached their mandate with the highest sense of duty, responsibility, professionalism, and commitment to the national interest. We have been transparent and very democratic in the exercise of our powers and have restrained ourselves from high-handedness.
“Unfortunately, more than one month into this onerous assignment, we have been faced with the daunting challenge of compelling relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to appear and provide the necessary and required information to enable the committee to complete its work within the stipulated time. Although some stakeholders have been very cooperative.
“We are sounding a word of warning to heads of MDAs and their management not to constitute a clog in the wheel of this committee in carrying out this assignment.
“Many of the important agencies have on several occasions deliberately refused to honour the invitation of the committee for no just cause. In fact, some of the agencies that have so far appeared before the committee could not submit the required documents. For example, the Nigerian Customs Service had appeared before us but disappointedly failed to comply fully with our requests.
“We wish to give the last warning to the chief executive officers and heads of the following agencies to change their attitude towards the committee, or have themselves to blame. They include the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria LNG Limited, INTELS and Julius Berger Plc.”
Akinlayo said the committee’s patience had run out, adding, “we will no longer tolerate contempt of the parliament, and we have resolved to invoke the statutory constitutional provisions to compel any erring CEO/head to appear before it.”
He explained that the committee has several mechanisms it can use to enforce compliance, including issuing summons, warrants and fines when its orders are violated.
“In more drastic instances, the legislature has the constitutional power to recommend the removal of office holders, where it is believed that the office holder(s) is not effectively discharging his constitutional or statutory duties.”
He added, “I wish to state without mincing words that this committee will not hesitate to subpoena any disrespectful and uncooperative CEO/head of MDAs. We will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of MDAs who fail to honour our invitation.
“Anyone who is out to sabotage our work will no longer be given the oxygen to undermine the legislature. We shall invoke the necessary constitutional provisions to compel compliance with the directives of the committee.”