Member representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, has expressed disdain for the Nigeria Customs Service’s plan to run a hotel business.
The lawmaker expressed this on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the oversight function of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Customs, of which he is a member.
The purpose of the oversight function is to know the operation of the agency, their challenges and where the House of Representatives can come in addressing those contingencies affecting the institution.
The oversight function, held during the week by the honourable members of the House of Representatives, visited various locations, including the institution’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, the customs hospital in Kari, Abuja, the FCT Area Command, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja/Customs Air Wing, and the customs training college in Gwagwalada.
Hon. Adepoju, commenting on the oversight function, said that customs was not established to run businesses. He stated that building a commercial hotel solely to make money is an aberration of the law establishing the institution.
“I commend the Nigeria Customs Service for preventing the entry of prohibited goods and safeguarding the country from potential threats. However, what I observed is that there is no point in this reputable institution embarking on a white elephant project like building hotel facilities to make money.
“This decision is not only ridiculous but a sharp deviation from the purpose for which the Nigeria Customs Service was established,” Ibarapakan said.
The lawmaker noted that construction of the institution’s commercial hotel in Gwagwalada, Abuja, started about two years ago, and the attempt to start such a project should be condemned by all.
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character commended the institution’s repair of their aircraft for the quick delivery of their constitutional duties, stating that the Customs has a role to play in shaping the federal republic of Nigeria.