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Nigeria: House Opposes Transfer of V'island Transit Village
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This Day (Lagos)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Stanley Nkwazema
Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday overruled the decision of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development to transfer the ownership of Transit Village Victoria-Island, Lagos, to the Bank of Industry.
The House while over-ruling the ministry observed that Due Process was not followed in the concessioning of the facility to BOI because the bank did not participate in the bid process for the village.
The right of Orient Properties Development Company was considered appropriate by the House as the preferred bidder for the village. The House adopted the report of its Committee on Public Petitions led by Honourable CID Maduabum on the matter.
The committee noted, "The right of Orient Properties Development Company as the preferred bidder for the redevelopment of the village be restored as due process was not followed in the grant of the concession to BOI. "The BOI did not participate in the bidding process conducted by the Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development."
The recommendation was adopted after the House presided by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Bayero Nafada, had dissolved into the committee of the Whole to consider, it Orient and UAC Nigeria were reported to have been listed for the bid before the BOI came into the picture. Orient wrote a petition to the House late last year complaining that it had been short-changed. Honourable Leo Ogor in his own comment said he was surprised that the Bank of Industry and Commerce which is supposed to be a bank providing facilities for the development of the industry is being turned into a property developer.
"I really can not see a reason for that. The important aspect I noticed here is that we are here passing bills supporting professionalism and when you look at the whole report it stated that the bank of industry and Commerce, not even a registered developer.
I can not see the reason why a bank which is supposed to be the medium of providing resources is now being asked to go and do a job". "I think we appreciate the fact that today we are in an era where the respect for the rule of law and due process has been the cardinal objectives of our administration. It is important that we do what is right at any given time" he said. According to him, the house has the responsibility to correct the injustice meted on Orient Property Development Company.
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He said since the company had won the bid and had not defaulted it in the interest of justice to uphold the committee's recommendation. Another Representative, Ita Enang said it is also important that the rights of the two companies; Orient Property Development Company and UAC Nigeria as the preferred bidders be restored because it is the only way that the House can ensure that due process is being complied with.
Also yesterday the reports of the Committee on Public Petition on petition by DSV limited against Nigeria deposit Insurance Corporation NDIC; Afribank; Wema Bank plc; and folio Communication limited was stood down by the House.
Speaking with Journalists after the sitting, Ita Enang said the report was stood down because the report was addressin
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