Osinbajo: We’ll no longer do business with AMCON debtors — they are enemies of Nigeria

Osinbajo, who is the chairman of the economic council, also disclosed plans by government to set up an inter-agency collaboration framework that would comprise relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and supervised by the office of the vice president to ensure that institutions and individuals that are indebted to AMCON are not allowed to do business with government henceforth.

The VP said this when he received some board members and Management of AMCON at the state house, Abuja, led by Muiz Banire, the board chairman.

He said the government will no longer fold its hands and allow a few individuals that owe AMCON huge sums of money walk freely on the streets in the country.

“I think the time has come for us (Federal Government) to set some examples with some of these top debtors of AMCON, which I believe will set a good example and serve as a deterrent to others,” Osinbajo was quoted to have said.

“I congratulate AMCON for the work done so far having recovered over N1trillion and counting both in cash and in assets. The work you do as a recovery agency is not something that is particularly easy or encouraging because we all know how Nigeria works.

“But we are committed to working more closely with your administration to ensure that these monies are recovered from AMCON obligors because it will help our economy and provide the government with more money to continue to improve on the development of infrastructure across the nation.”

Osinbajo said in the next couple of days, he would invite the AMCON team alongside other relevant MDAs to discuss and fine-tune plans on how to ensure that anybody or agency that is a debtor to AMCON are completely made to face the wrath of the government.

According to a statement by AMCON, Banire said AMCON’s visit to the VP was to congratulate him and President Muhammadu Buhari on their recent victory at the polls.

He also highlighted some of the challenges and frustrations faced by AMCON as a result of the attitudes of some debtors who behave as if they are above the law in the country.

While calling on the government to rally round AMCON if they indeed want the corporation to succeed Banire said, “AMCON has been able to recover over N1 trillion since inception to 2018-year-end.

Out of the recovered sum, cash accounted for 60% while non-cash assets such as properties and equity securities accounted for the balance of 40%. Over the same period, AMCON’s repayment of its indebtedness to the CBN was over N1 trillion.

“As at end of December, 2018, AMCON’s Assets Under Management (AUM) amounted to about N172.5 billion. It is noteworthy to state that out of the total real estate properties, assets available for sale is valued at N62 billion.

“Of this N62 billion about 83% comprises of bare land and other assets, which may need considerable improvements to convert into income generating assets. 

“Your Excellency may recall that in September 2018 following the takeover of Skye Bank Plc. by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), AMCON was again invited to inject a total sum of NN898.45 billion as capital thereby leading to the emergence of another bridged bank named Polaris Bank Limited.

“The intervention in Skye Bank was caused majorly by internal abuse by the operators. As a result of that development, AMCON’s total debt obligation to the CBN, is currently in excess of N6 trillion.

“And it is evident that the Federal Government cannot afford to write off this debt in the short term, hence, our moral obligation to pursue obligors and recover the debts owed.

“But, despite the successes recorded, the corporation has been facing a number of challenges, which includes obligors resorting to all manner of tactics to avoid honouring their obligations.

“Whilst some are still enjoying government patronage, others are using the judiciary and adopting on legal technicalities to stall recovery, which is why we need a new strategy to enable AMCON meet its mandate before sunset.”

Ahmed Kuru, the AMCON MD, thanked the vice-president for his support to AMCON all these years however added that he cannot wait for the take-off of the inter-agency collaboration.

Kuru also reminded the VP that AMCON’s debts sit on the government’s balance sheet with CBN, and failure to recover may result to serious consequences including recourse to taxpayers’ money, which must be avoided.

He said for an organisation like AMCON with sunset date, all hands must be on deck to provide the support required. According to him, considering the huge portfolio of debt, no obligor must be allowed to go scot-free no matter how highly placed in society.