*vows to deal with erring operators
The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over controversies trailing the concession of Apapa Port Terminal, Warri Port Terminal and Tincan Island Port Terminal, even as it vows to deal with illegal port terminal operators.
This is coming on the heels of similar directives to Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Director General Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Chairman, House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Hon. Ibrahim Chidari issued the notice during the investigative hearing into the expired concession agreements signed with six unlicensed Terminal operators.
“We invited you to this meeting today to discuss how best to address this prolong renewal process because of the need to attract investments into our critical port infrastructure which is one of the major focus of this administration.
“From the brief we received from affected parties and MDA’s involved in the process, we understand that as of today what is outstanding in concluding the process that started over 5 years ago is the execution of the negotiated Supplementary Agreements for the respective Terminals.
“That is why we invited all stakeholders to see how we can work together to quickly address this concern in the mutual and national interest,” he said.
There are the five terminals whose concession period has expired and they have been operating illegally from 2021 to date.
The four operating companies are ENL Consortium Limited, Associated Maritime Services Limited (AMS), Ports & Cargo Handling Services Ltd and Josephdam Port Services Nigerian Limited.
While frowning at the illegality being perpetuated by NPA officials who issued letters of extension of concession agreements to the operators, the lawmakers underscored the need to investigate the fees paid by the five Terminal operators into private or government accounts.
“We want to investigate and see what the problem is and whoever is in charge of this, we would deal with him,” said Chidari.
Hon. Chidari, who expressed concern over the controversies trailing the expired leases/concession agreements, ruled that the Minister of Maritime and Blue Economy, NPA Managing Director, BPE Director General as well as ICRC Director General “must appear before the Committee on 12th of March.
“We also want to assure that this committee would work very hard to make sure that this issue is over and to do that, you are to furnish the Committee with all the relevant documents through the Secretariat latest Friday.
“To this end we would also go into details of all your financial activities between the expired date to today because as one of the members said maybe you are comfortable with what you have been paying and that is why you are silent otherwise you should have been following it so the issue would come to an end.
“So, when you are furnishing the Committee with relevant documents, you should give us all the details of payment done by your side to the government so we can see what transpired between the expired date to date.
“We want to assure you that we would work hard and work together with you to make sure that this prolonged issue is solved.”
Speaking further on the development, Hon. Chidari observed that: “Some seaport terminals were given out on concession and five of them have expired. Some are from Lagos and some are from Port Harcourt. They were trying to see that their approvals were renewed in 2021. Somewhere, this renewal was 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, BPP, and the 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 the Minister of Blue Economy, MD NPA, BPP and ICRC should appear before this committee on 12th of March by 10 am, so we discuss with them, we see where the problem is and we take action so that we bring this lasting solution to the problem.
“They have been invited but only one of them gave a reason for not coming because they are out of the country. But the rest did not give any reason for not coming.”
Other lawmakers who spoke during the hearing queried the Terminal Operators whether they are sure that the fees paid into the appropriate government’s account or not, maintained that any payment made illegally is an offense of corruption.
In the same vein, Chief Ochia Patrick who spoke on behalf of Brawal Oil Services Limited accused INTEL of illegal imposition of shifting fees which led to the loss of multi-million naira businesses from international shipling agencies.
Chief Patrick, who expressed grave concern over the high cost of diesel to power generators daily, solicited for the intervention of the House on regular supply of gas to the Terminal.
He also expressed concern over the impact high foreign exchange and other associated costs being incurred in the cause of carrying out businesses in the country.
On its part, Indorama Group expressed concern over the imposition of about 40 taxes by Federal Government and various regulatory agencies.
While reacting to all the concerns raised by the stakeholders, Hon. Chidari assured that the Committee has been interfacing with relevant Standing Committees on Finance and Gas Resources with a view to address all the issues militating against ease of doing business in the country.
