The House of Representatives, yesterday, summoned the Ministers of Blue Economy, Gboyega Ayetola, and his Transport counterpart, Saidu Alkali, over the alleged fraudulent concession of critical port infrastructure.
Also summoned are the Managing Director (MD) of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko; the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mamman Ahmadu; the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Micheal Ohiani; and the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).
The Chairman of the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Ibrahim Hamisu (APC, Kaduna), at a meeting with the seaport terminal operators, lamented the absence of heads of key sectors, the Ministers of Transport and Blue Economy and the MD of Nigeria Ports Authority, given the role they played in the concession of the seaport terminals.
Again, the majority of members of the Committee frowned on the shady manner in which the concession process was handled, which ensured five companies operated for five years without renewal, leading to a huge loss of revenue to the Federal Government.
Briefing journalists on the matter, Hamisu explained that there was a need to find out why the companies listed were still operating without renewal of the concession.
He said: “Some seaport terminals were given out on concession, and five of them have expired. Some are from Lagos and 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. 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 a week period within which the Minister of Blue Economy, MD of NPA, BPP and ICRC should appear before this committee, on March 12 by 10:00 a.m., so we can discuss with them, find where the problem is and take action so that we can bring a lasting solution to the problem.”
