By Sarah NEGEDU
A civil society group in Abuja has given the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu, a seven-day deadline to release full details of the council’s outdoor advertising contract with Takushara Nigeria Limited.
The ultimatum, issued by the Concerned Citizens of the FCT in a letter signed by its Coordinator, Dr Joel Dipo, alleges fraud in the revenue collection process and threatens legal action if AMAC fails to comply with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
The group said it is seeking clarity on how Takushara was appointed as technical partner after receiving what it described as credible intelligence of malfeasance in AMAC’s advertisement revenue operations.
According to the letter, concerns were heightened by the activities of one Mr Donald Amagbo, who is allegedly “parading your account information claiming to be collecting revenue for the local government with regards to the first party advert in the federal capital territory.”
Dipo noted that earlier attempts to get answers had been ignored. “We have been in constant touch with your office via various correspondence. Howbeit, none of our correspondence has been given the needed attention,” the letter read.
The group demanded immediate release of four documents: the advert placed by AMAC before hiring a technical partner; the applications submitted by Takushara Nigeria Limited and other screened bidders; the Memorandum of Understanding between the firm and AMAC; and the financial inflow records between both parties.
Citing the FOI Act, the letter stated, “By the provision of section 2(2) [of the FOI Act], a public institution shall ensure proper organization and maintenance of all information in its custody in a manner that facilitates public access to such information.”
It also reminded the chairman of the statutory deadline, noting that the “FOIA Act 2011 section 4 mandates within seven days after the application is received, to make the information available to the applicant.”
While expressing optimism that the chairman’s office is “a law abiding office,” the group warned of imminent legal action should AMAC fail to act.
“However sir, in the case you refuse to release the needed information as stipulated by the law, Take Notice that we will immediately initiate a suit in a competent court of jurisdiction and seek for an order for you to release this information to us by all means,” it concluded.
The demand has renewed scrutiny of local government contract processes in the FCT, particularly around the lucrative outdoor advertising portfolio.
