Secrets Reporters
A federal audit report has raised serious red flags over the mysterious disappearance of two brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, collectively worth ₦139,095,976, from the inventory of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
The vehicles, procured in 2021 for border patrol operations, were taken away by the then Comptroller General and Acting Comptroller General of the Service upon their retirement, in direct violation of standing government regulations.
The audit, obtained by SecretsReporters, points to a clear breach of government financial regulations and asset management guidelines as paragraph 1 of the Establishment Circular Ref. No. SGF.19/S.52/V/720 dated February 20, 2017, specifically mandates that all retiring officers must surrender every government property in their possession before final disengagement.
Similarly, Paragraphs 112(i) and 2001 of the Financial Regulations (FR), 2009 assign accounting officers the responsibility of ensuring strict control, safety, and maintenance of government assets, particularly vehicles. Yet, these directives were seemingly thrown to the wind when the top brass of the NIS exited the stage.
According to the audit, the two high-end Toyota SUVs, purchased in June and November 2021 for border patrol operations, were never recorded in the Service’s Motor Vehicle List or Asset Register.
Furthermore, the procurement documents were incomplete; key details such as vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and chassis numbers were missing, raising serious concerns about the transparency of the acquisition process. These glaring omissions created a significant loophole, ultimately enabling the former heads of the Service to quietly divert the vehicles.
The Bureau of Public Procurement had given its “No Objection” approval under reference number NIS/HQ/PCM/14404/20 for the purchase, clearly stipulating that the vehicles were meant to bolster border security. However, rather than safeguarding the nation’s frontlines, the SUVs have reportedly ended up as parting gifts for departing executives, an act the auditors flagged as symptomatic of a porous control system within the NIS.
Compounding the gravity of the situation, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) management has offered no explanation in response to the audit findings. The absence of any rebuttal or clarification has left the auditors’ observations standing like a sore thumb. According to the report, the findings remain undisputed, and the silence from the Service’s leadership only deepens concerns.
The audit highlighted alarming risks, including the potential loss of government assets, misuse of public funds, and the unlawful conversion of state property for personal gain.
In light of these findings, the auditors have called for decisive action. The current Comptroller General of the NIS has been directed to appear before the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly to explain how two vehicles, intended for public service and security, were diverted into private hands.
“Recover the vehicles from the former Comptroller General and Acting Comptroller General. Forward evidence of recovery to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly”.
Should these measures fail, the audit recommends the application of sanctions as prescribed under Paragraphs 3113 and 3129 of the Financial Regulations, which pertain to gross misconduct and unauthorized use of government property.