… It’s untrue – Aide
By Matthew Denis
The Director-General, Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Vincent Irogbe, has been accused of diversion of millions of naira approved by the Federal Government for the procurement of 100 Hilux vans.
Irogbe, who is the pioneer DG of the agency following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, is also accused of conducting illegal recruitments.
But the all allegations were refuted by the Head of Media Communication, Research Strategy of NAQS, Dr. Chigozie Nwodo, who described them as lies and malicious.
A senior officer in the agency, who did not want his name in print because of the fear of intimidation, also accused the DG of highhandedness, alleging that Irogbe had sidelined all the plant quarantine officers in the agency.
The officer also accused the DG of engaging fake officers who are reportedly wearing the agency’s uniforms, alleging further that they did not have IPPIS number.
“Our DG does not allow the right people to handle the job rather he prefers using his people. That is the main reason they issue our phytosanitary certificate to wrong consignment that became a problem.
“Our proposed training institute in Nasarawa state and Barracks in Abuja near Immigration Office, we didn’t know what was going on there. Even most of the people working at our headquarters do not have appointment letters. You people can trace the records and their IPPIS number, you will get the fact.
“The whole of north central zone anywhere you see NAQS control post, the staff there are just like touts they are fake officers in the agency and if you people get hold of 20 of them, that is in enough evidence for you, they don’t have IPPIS number.
“Also, the Federal Government provided a huge sum of money to purchase Hundred (100) fleet of Hilux vans. Please, where are all the official Hilux vans because immediately they made the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service a full-fledged agency, the government gave the agency with all those equipment, where are all the Hilux vans? Each state is supposed to have at least two each.”
Responding, the Head of Media Communication, Research Strategy of the agency, Dr. Nwodo, maintained that the allegations on procurement of 100 Hilux vans against the DG are false and baseless.
He said, “There was the procurement of only four Hilux vans in 2018 and due process was followed. We have been applying for funds to procure more vehicles and equipment to enhance our activities and I hope it will be granted someday.
“I can tell you there is nothing like favoritism in the agency. In addition to my role, I’m also the Special Assistant to the DG. So I can tell you there is nothing like nepotism and favoritism in the agency. I understand that there are locations that have more activities than others; for instance, you can’t compare a control post in the Northeast with an International Airport in the center of the town. But it will surprise you that those working there prefer it because that’s where you conduct the really quarantine business in the North.”