The House of Representatives Committee investigating the implementation of a Customs centric single window portal, is to Commission a forensic audit of Webb Fontaine in Nigeria from 2006.
The forensic audit is to evaluate funds received in relation to the services rendered with a view to compensating stakeholders, where necessary.
In January, 2006, Webb Fontaine was appointed by Nigeria to implement a Customs Centric Single Window Portal and provide Information Technology and Telecommunications infrastructure.
The goal was to achieve ease of doing business and increase the revenue drive of the Federal government.
But complaints of inefficiency leading to weeks of down times and loss in businesses by operators in the industry, have characterised the company’s operations since then.
In the midst of stakeholders’ agitations, the seven-year contract was extended indefinitely but the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, has now kicked.
It is convinced the services being provided by Webb Fontaine have been far from satisfactory.
Like the Ministry, the Nigeria Customs Service insists the IT company has not met its expectations, a situation the House describes as unacceptable.
Now, a transition Committee is to ensure a smooth hand-over to the Nigeria Customs Service by the 31st of December, 2022, but Webb Fontaine believes there are aspects the agency may not be able to handle in the immediate
At the end of the investigative hearing, the House Committee resolved to Institute a forensic audit into the operations of Webb Fontaine with a view to knowing how commensurate its services have been to the quantum of money received so far.
The House Committee is also considering compensation for industry operators who have had to suffer losses due to the various challenges that beset the services of Webb Fontaine.
The kind of agreement between the Nigerian Customs Service, the Ministry of Finance and Web Fontaine have been fingered several times as a clear case of Loss of revenue and Siphoning of funds for the nations’ treasury.
