By Our Reporter
Concerned Nigerians under the auspices of a Civil Society Organisation, CSO, Forum for Governance, Accountability and Transparent Business Practices in Nigeria, FGATBP, has called on the federal government to urgently probe the Federal Ministry of Finance over its handling of the Track and Trace, T&T, contract for excisable goods in the country.
FGATBP made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr Aisha Bello, at the weekend.
Besides, FGATBP also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to urgently carry out a forensic audit of the procedure for the selection of Société Industrielle et Commerciale de Produits Alimentaires, SICPA, a Swiss firm, for the T&T contract.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, had earlier granted SICPA a “no objection” certification as the sole company for the deployment of security stamp with a view to collecting taxes through a process called “track-and-trace” on manufactured and consumer goods.
The statement reads in part “As stakeholders committed to ethical governance and economic integrity, we are compelled to address these concerns directly to the Federal Ministry of Finance, FMF, urging immediate review of the proposed partnership with SICPA Security Solutions,” a firm which it alleged has “a well-documented history of corruption.”
The group added that “Recent reports have highlighted alarming allegations of corruption against SICPA Security Solutions, yet the ministry appears to have proceeded without adequate transparency or due diligence.
“This raises serious questions about the integrity of the procurement process and its implications for Nigeria’s economic governance.
“In the past month, media reports have revealed a growing chorus of criticism from reputable outlets. Headlines like “Track and Trace project, FG advised against awarding contract to corruption-stained firm,” “Track-And-Trace Project, FG, Stakeholders bicker over preferred Swiss company,” and “Track & Trace Revenue contract, Outrage over ICRC, FMF, secret endorsement of Swiss firm” underscore widespread unease.”
It said: “These reports highlight the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Committee’s ‘no objection’ certification, which appears to have been granted without adequate public consultation or scrutiny, unsettling the manufacturing and financial sectors. These reports also detail “SICPA’s 2023 conviction by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General for corporate criminal liability in failing to prevent bribes to foreign officials in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, resulting in a CHF 81 million penalty.
“Further probes in countries including Egypt, India and Pakistan compound these issues, painting a picture of a company unfit for handling sensitive revenue-collection mandates.”
Therefore, FGATBP pointed out that “the Federal Ministry of Finance’s apparent endorsement of SICPA under a Public-Private-Partnership, PPP, lacks the transparency expected in handling public funds and national resources. Reports of ‘secret endorsements’ and attempts to suppress media coverage – such as approaches to editors to pull stories offline – suggest a deliberate effort to evade accountability.
“This opacity contravenes the principles of good governance and due diligence, particularly when alternative providers offering fully digital, cost-effective solutions exist. Paper-based systems like those proposed by SICPA are not only more expensive and disruptive, but also fail to deliver the efficiency and security that digital alternatives provide.
“As an organisation dedicated to promoting ethical business practices and anti-corruption measures, FGATBP views this as a blatant disregard for due diligence. Awarding such a critical project – aimed at enhancing revenue collection and curbing illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol and spirits – to a firm with a documented corruption record risks tarnishing Nigeria’s international image and exposing it to financial vulnerabilities. It also undermines President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption and foster transparent governance. This initiative, an indirect consumer tax, raises huge concern among Nigerian consumers who are already frightened by the proposed five years percent fuel tax from 2026.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance to: Immediately suspend further engagement with SICPA pending a comprehensive independent audit of the process, release the relevant documents, including tender evaluations, due diligence reports and conflict-of-interest declarations to the public for scrutiny.”
Others are “Conduct a fresh, open and competitive bidding process that prioritises companies with unblemished records and innovative, cost-effective digital solutions over outdated paper-based systems, and collaborate with anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the allegations and hold accountable any official involved in bypassing standard procedures.
“FGATBP stands ready to partner government, civil society and the private sector to ensure that the T&T Project aligns with global best practices and serves the people’s interest. Transparency is not optional – it is the foundation of sustainable development,” the statement read.
