Scores of protesters have staged a peaceful protest at precinct of the national Assembly complex in Abuja urging the Senator Godswill Akpabio led National Assembly to reject the re-appointment of Dr Vincent Isegbe as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
Jointly led by Comrades Danesi Momoh and Igwe Ude-umanta, the group maintained that a reversal of Isegbe’s re-appointment will be in the best interest of the agency and for progressive national development.
The protesters under the aegis of the Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative and Nigerians of good conscience particularly called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to correct the alleged anomalies associated with the re- appointment of Isegbe.
They also demanded the immediate probe the nine years tenure of Isegbe as Comptroller General of NAQS.
The protesters brandished placards with inscriptions as “Regular staff of NAQS are abandoned for quacks”, “NAQS has made no progress under Dr Vincent isegbe”, “PBAT should probe Dr Vincent Isegbe”, “With Dr isigbe NASQ is under serious siege” accused him of indulging in corrupt practices, high-handedness, nepotism and undue favouritism; opaqueness in operation and ineptitude.
They claimed that Nigerians have recorded losses running into billions of naira due to rejection of goods that often get spoilt in transit on their way back to Nigeria.
“This has also negatively affected our foreign exchange since the imbalance in trade continues to increase. Instead of NAQS to address this challenge, Dr. Isegbe’s incompetence has led to the ban of more Nigerian goods. His reappointment will therefore harm the Nigerian economy greatly,” the protesters claimed.
” Dr. Vincent Isegbe has also failed Nigerians in the prevention of cross border disease in animals which has affected not just the quality of animal health but also the humans that consume animal products. His inability to manage our land borders and coordinate with relevant authorities to safeguard our health as a nation is a display of gross incompetence.
“The inability to provide quality control services at NAQS has reduced the credibility of Dr. Vincent Isegbe. His reappointment should, therefore, be jettisoned to give way to a credible and professional hand
“Indeed, Dr. Vincent Isegbe is a mess as far as NAQS is concerned. How he finds his way back to office as Comptroller General should particularly be investigated and addressed by the Senate as part of its oversight. But in the meantime, we urge you to save the NAQS by taking immediate steps within your power and influence to ensure that his re-appointment is reversed.”
