Concessioning : House Summons Ministers Of Marine And Blue Economy, Transportation

House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has summoned the Ministers of Marine and Blue Economy and Transportation over irregularities in the concessioning of seaports in the country.

Also summoned were the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and the Director General Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

The Chairman of the Committee, Ibrahim Hamisu, in an investigative hearing frowned at their absence despite being invited to answer questions on their roles in the concessioning of the seaport terminals.

He said the hearing was to address a situation where five terminal operators whose concession period had expired since 2021 and have been allegedly operating illegally since then.

“Some seaport terminals were given out on concession and five of them, their duration has expired. Some are from Lagos and some are from Port Harcourt. They were trying to see that their approvals were renewed since 2021.Somehow this renewal were not granted to them, but they have been operating since then”.

“So we deemed it fit to cross check and find out what the problem is. So we decided to invite them, and all the stakeholders like the Ministry of Blue Economy, ICRC, BPE, Ministry of Transport. After inviting them here today, unfortunately only the seaport terminal operators are here”.

“So we have discussed with them and have given one week period within which they should appear before this committee on 12th of March by 10 am, so we discussed with them, we see where the problem is and we take action so that we bring this lasting solution to the problem”.

The Lawmaker said the names of the affected seaport terminals are Port and Cargo Terminal, ENL Consortium Terminal C, ENL Consortium Terminal D, Josepdam Terminal and AMS Terminal.

“There are the five terminals whose concession period has expired and they have been operating illegally from 2021 to date and we want to investigate and see what is the problem,” he said.

Members of the Committee also frowned at the manner the concessioning process was handled which had let the five companies operate without renewal therefore leading to huge loss of revenue to the federal government.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji