By Mercy Gadia
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating concession agreements across Nigeria’s air and sea ports has threatened to order the arrest of chief executives of government agencies and companies that fail to honour its invitations.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, issued the warning during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, saying the panel would invoke constitutional powers to compel compliance from defaulting organisations.
The committee was inaugurated on February 3, 2026, by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to investigate and appraise the performance and benefits accruing to the Federal Government from concessionaire-operated ports and related shipping activities between 2006 and 2025.
Akinlayo said the probe was aimed at examining the terms and conditions of concession agreements, assessing revenue remittances to the Federal Government, evaluating compliance with contractual and safety obligations, and reviewing infrastructural development and operational efficiency across the nation’s port terminals.
According to him, the committee was constituted in response to growing national concerns over the management, transparency and value outcomes of concession arrangements governing critical national 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 said.
However, the lawmaker lamented that several Ministries, Departments and Agencies had failed to appear before the committee or provide requested documents more than a month after the investigation commenced.
He disclosed that some agencies which honoured the committee’s invitation were unable to submit the required documents, citing the Nigeria Customs Service as an example.
Akinlayo subsequently issued what he described as a “final warning” to the heads of agencies and companies yet to appear before the panel.
Those listed include the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigeria LNG Limited, Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
He warned that the committee would no longer tolerate what he described as contempt of parliament and could issue subpoenas against defaulting officials.
“We will not hesitate to subpoena any disrespectful or uncooperative CEO or head of an MDA. We will not develop cold feet in directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest any CEO or head of an agency that fails to honour our invitation,” Akinlayo said.
The lawmaker noted that Sections 89 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution empower the National Assembly to issue summons, warrants and fines against individuals or organisations that fail to comply with legislative directives.
“In more drastic instances, the legislature has the constitutional power to recommend the removal of office holders where it is believed they are not effectively discharging their duties,” he added.
Despite the warning, Akinlayo stressed that the committee was not witch-hunting any organisation but was determined to carry out its oversight responsibility in the national interest.
He added that the investigation was necessary to determine whether port concessions had delivered value for money, complied with contractual obligations and contributed meaningfully to economic growth, employment and government revenue.
The committee therefore urged all invited agencies and organisations to honour their invitations and submit relevant documents to enable it complete its assignment within the stipulated timeframe.