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‘No truth in alleged manipulation of NPA’s cargo bids’

By Editor
28 March 2017   |   5:43 am
Barely one week after a cargo surveyor who is one of the bidders in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) cargo survey bid, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stewart Intersea, Mr Arthur Ottor, expressed his confidence in the management of the federal agency to select competent bidders....

Nigerian Ports Authority

Barely one week after a cargo surveyor who is one of the bidders in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) cargo survey bid, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stewart Intersea, Mr Arthur Ottor, expressed his confidence in the management of the federal agency to select competent bidders in the contract, another bidder, Mr Efefiong Udoma, has spoken in support of the Usman-led management.

On his part, the Managing Director of Interfric Nigeria Limited, Mr Steven Okeowo, who is also another bidder, said time would tell if the allegations were true or not.Most of the bidders had, in the last few weeks, been accusing the management of NPA of attempting to award the contracts to ‘incompetent’ companies allegedly belonging to some politicians who are allegedly eyeing the 2019 presidential election.

The bidders have vowed to petition the National Assembly, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies, just like the case of the Ministry of Finance. According to them, what they are waiting for is to see the award letters given to ‘choice companies’ before calling a press conference upon conclusion of their investigations.

They are also calling on all Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption in whatever guise.Udoma, who is the CEO of Cardiff Global Services, one of the companies bidding for the contracts, said allegations of manipulation against the NPA’s management ‘are unfortunate’ and therefore urged Nigerians to wait for the outcome of the bidding process.

His words: “Those allegations are unfounded which cannot be substantiated by anyone. The process of selecting competent bidders is painstaking and is done with utmost professionalism so I do not know where and how some bidders came about the allegations. It is a contract that requires that the best gets the job.
 
“It is a process that cannot be manipulated without dire consequences and they are aware, so the NPA’s MD has said she is on a mission to put things right at the NPA and I believe she should be given the chance.”
 
He added: “Nigerians should discard all these allegations and support the management to move the NPA forward. We are all partners in progress and want the best for Nigeria and I believe the best bidders will get the job.”

According to Okeowo, “I do not believe those allegations are true. I am very optimistic the right thing will be done. They are rumours and remain so until proven otherwise. We should wait for the outcome of the bidding process before reaching conclusion.”

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