The House of Representatives summoned the Minister of the Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and the Minister of Transport, Saidu Alkali, accusing them of fraudulent concessions on some port infrastructure.
Mohammed Bello Koko, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, was also invited to be questioned; Mamman Ahmadu, Director General of Public Enterprises, and Michael Ohiani, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Board, among others.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Privatization and Commercialization Committee, Ibrahim Hamisu (APC, Kaduna), issued a summons on Tuesday at a meeting in Abuja with the seaport terminal operator.
The MP regretted that the top did not explain the role they played in the seaport terminal concession.
Committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the allegedly improper manner in which the concession process was administered, which allowed five companies to operate for five years without renewal, resulting in a significant loss of federal revenue.
"They (ministers) have to be present at the committee on March 12," he said. We would also like to assure that this Committee will work very hard to ensure that this issue is resolved. To do that, you have to make all the relevant documents available to the Committee through the Secretariat by Friday.
He told port stakeholders that they were invited to the meeting "to discuss how best to address this lengthy renewal process as there is a need to attract investment into our critical port infrastructure, which is one of the main focuses of this edition." ”
"Judging by the briefings we have received from the affected parties and from the ministries and agencies involved in the process," he said. We understand that, as of today, the prominent task in bringing to an end the process that began five years ago is the implementation of the supplementary agreement negotiated on the terminal.
That's why we invite all stakeholders to see how we can work together to address this issue quickly in the national interest. ”
Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Hamisu said it was necessary to figure out why the listed company was still operating without renewing the concession agreement.
"Some of the harbor terminals have been granted concessions, five of which have expired," he said. Some are from Lagos and some are from Port Harcourt. They tried to regain approval in 2021.
Somehow, they didn't get an extension, but they've been operating ever since. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to cross-check to find out what the problem is.
We decided to invite them, as well as all stakeholders such as the Blue Economy Ministry, the ICRC, the BPP and the Ministry of Transport. After inviting them today, unfortunately only the operators of the harbor terminal came. We've had discussions with them, and they've had a week to have the Minister of Blue Economy, MD NPA, BPP and the ICRC present at the committee.
They're going to show up by 10 a.m. on March 12 so we can talk to them, see what's going on, and take action so we can find a lasting solution.
"The names of the affected terminals are Port and Cargo Terminal, Yingli Joint Terminal C, Yingli Joint Terminal D, Josephdam Terminal and Auxiliary Medical Service Terminal. "There are five terminals whose concessions have expired, they have been operating illegally from 2021 until now, and we want to look into it and see what the problem is, and whoever is responsible, we will deal with him. ”