President Jonathna Cancels The Ongoing Customs Contract

Following the ongoing probe by the House of Representatives, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the cancellation of an ongoing contract designed to create a single window system for the operations of the nation‘s port system. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the contract agreement, yet to be finalised with the consultant, was cancelled at the request of the Minister of Finance to allow for a proper review of the objections and complaints raised by the House panel. The Federal Ministry of Finance had signed a preliminary agreement with the Single Window Systems Technology Limited under a private sector financed arrangement to replace an existing consultant to which the nation is reported to have paid N40billion between 2006 and 2011. The ministry had accused the existing consultant of failure to comply with contract agreements and meet targets for deliverables despite being fully paid. A House motion however faulted the procedure adopted in the contract , accusing the ministry of breaching due process as well as engaging a company whose competence could not be ascertained. The Finance Minister was said to have subsequently sought the approval of the president to cancel the contract to allow her time to review the entire contract including the performance of the existing consultant, the Fountains Consortium.