A’Ibom loses over N613m to illegal fire service leasing

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government lost a total revenue of N613,200,000 million in three years to the illegal leasing of fire service trucks belonging to the State Fire Service.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare said during his maiden press briefing in Uyo on Monday that the State Police Command arrested four officials of the state fire service for allegedly stealing four fire trucks.

CP Azare said the trucks were recovered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where they were leased out for three years to multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck, while the fire service officials shared N60, 000 per day per truck.

A breakdown of the amount the leasing would have accrued to the State Government coffers if the trucks were not illegally leased shows as follows: lease rate per truck – daily rate per truck is ₦140,000,  totaling ₦560,000 per day and ₦3,920,000 per week.

On a monthly basis of 30 days, the leased trucks would have earned ₦16,800,000 a month, which would in 365 days accure to ₦204,400,000 a year. For the three years lease span, the state government would have earned ₦613,200,000 in revenue.

“Based on credible information from a good samaritan that 4 of the state fire service trucks were stolen and taken to Port Harcourt, River State by some officials of the service.

“The command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of three years.

“The link company share was N80, 000 while the fire service officials share stood at N60, 000 per truck per day, the deal was done in 2021 and was expected to terminate by 2024.

“About two months to the expiration of the deal the command acted and recovered the vehicles,” the CP stated.

According to the CP,  the four suspects would be charge to court, while the trucks will be release to the State Government.