Transport Minister Knocks NPA for Excluding Shippers Council in Port Concession Review

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By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has knocked the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for failing to carry along the port economic regulatory body; Nigerian Shippers Council in the ongoing review of port concession agreement with terminal operators.

Sambo stated this when he visited the Shippers Council headquarters in Lagos on Friday.

According to the Minister, requests for concession agreement renewals from NPA had been submitted without verifiable data on the performance of the terminals vis-a-vis the obligations as contained in the initial concession agreement, positing that as the port economic regulator, Shippers Council is best placed to perform this role.

DAILY TREND recalls that the former Executive Secretary of Shippers Council, Barr Hassan Bello had raised alarm severally about how the Council was being excluded in the port concession agreement review under the former Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Balls Usman.

However, speaking on Friday, Sambo said “NPA ought not to have recommended to the Transport Ministry the renewal of the leases and concession for terminal operators without an input from NSC. As port economic regulator, NSC should provide a comprehensive report detailing the accomplishments of the operators. Do it terminal by terminal. Outline the encumbrances the terminals faced and provide data to measure their performances,” the Minister said.

Noting that NSC wasn’t involved in some stages of the concession agreement review, Sambo opined the initial neglect better positions the Council to deliver an independent review of the final outcome of the port concession agreement and recommendation with verifiable data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the terminal operators.

According to the Minister, the report of NSC will be attached and forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval of the concession contracts for terminal operators.

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