*Wants FMF, ICIR probed
A non-governmental organization, Forum for Governance, Accountability and Transparent Business Practices in Nigeria (FGATBP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quickly order the immediate suspension of all federal government transactions with a Swiss-based firm, Société Industrielle et Commerciale de Produits Alimentaires (SICPA) until an independent investigation and Audit of the roles played by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Infrastructure Concession, Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in the business deal with the company has been ascertained.
The group also called on the President to direct the anti-graft agencies (EFCC and ICPC), to investigate the allegations and hold accountable any official involved in bypassing procurement laws.
While insisting on a fresh, open, and competitive bidding process for the project, the NGO insisted that only companies with unblemished record and innovative, cost-effective digital solutions over outdated paper-based systems, should be hired for the project.
They urged the Tinubu to further direct both the FMF and ICIR, “to release all relevant documents, including tender evaluations, due diligence reports, and conflict-of-interest declarations, to the public and the forensic experts for scrutiny”.
In a statement signed by Dr. Aisha Bello, Executive Director, the group expressed concern over the recourse by the Federal
Ministry of Finance and ICRC handling of the Track and Trace (T&T) Project for excisable goods.
The group stayed: “As stakeholders committed to ethical governance and economic integrity, we are compelled to address these concerns directly to the FMF, urging an immediate review of the proposed partnership with SICPA Security Solutions – a firm with a well-documented history of corruption”,
According to Dr. Bello, “recent reports have highlighted alarming allegations of corruption against SICPA Security Solutions, the preferred contractor, yet the Ministry appears to have proceeded without adequate transparency or due diligence”.
She further alleged that these “raises serious questions about the integrity of the procurement process and its implications for Nigeria’s economic governance.
“In the past month, media reports have revealed a growing chorus of criticism from reputable outlets. “Headlines like: ‘Track and Trace project, FG advised against awarding contract to corruption stained firm’; ‘Track-And-Trace Project, FG, Stakeholders bicker over preferred Swiss company’; and ‘Track Trace Revenue contract, Outrage over ICRC, FMF, secret endorsement of Swiss firm’, amongst others, underscore widespread unease.
“These reports highlight the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) no objection certification, which appears to have been granted without adequate public consultation or scrutiny, unsettling the manufacturing and financial sectors.
“These reports also detail “SICPA’s 2023 conviction by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General for corporate criminal liability in failing to prevent bribes to foreign officials in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, resulting in a CHF 81 million penalty.
“Further probes in countries including Egypt, India, and Pakistan compound these issues, painting a picture of a company unfit for handling sensitive revenue- collection mandates”.
The Civil Rights group added that the procurement process “lacks the transparency expected in handling public funds and national resources”, adding that “reports of secret endorsements and attempts to suppress media coverage – such as approaches to editors to pull stories offline – suggest a deliberate effort to evade accountability.
“This opacity contravenes principles of good governance and due diligence, particularly when alternative providers offering fully digital, cost-effective solutions exist. Paper-based systems like those proposed by SICPA are not only more expensive and disruptive but also fail to deliver the efficiency and security that digital alternatives provide.
“As an organisation dedicated to promoting ethical business practices and anti-corruption measures, FGATBP views this as a blatant disregard for due diligence.
“Awarding such a critical project, aimed at enhancing revenue collection and curbing illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol, and spirits – to a firm with a documented corruption record risks tarnishing Nigeria’s international image and exposing the nation to financial vulnerabilities”.
The group insisted that what transpored undermines President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s stated commitment to fighting corruption and fostering transparent governance”.
