On Tuesday, the House of Representatives called upon the Minister of Blue Economy and Transport, Gboyega Oyetola, to address concerns regarding the management of port infrastructure concession in Nigeria. Ibrahim Hamisu, the chairman of the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, summoned the minister during a meeting with seaport terminal operators in Abuja. Hamisu voiced apprehensions regarding the methodology employed in the concession of the seaport terminals.
In addition to Minister Oyetola, other officials summoned included Muhammed Koko, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mamman Ahmadu, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), and Michael Ohiani, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). Hamisu expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the concession process, highlighting the fact that five companies had been operating without the renewal of their operating licenses for three years.
According to Hamisu, this oversight has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for the Federal Government. The failure to renew operating licenses has led to operational uncertainties and financial losses for both the government and the seaport terminal operators. This situation underscores the need for improved oversight and management of port infrastructure concession processes to prevent revenue losses and ensure the smooth operation of seaport terminals.
The summoning of Minister Oyetola and other key officials reflects the House of Representatives’ commitment to addressing issues related to port infrastructure concession and ensuring accountability in the management of public resources. By convening this meeting and summoning relevant stakeholders, the House aims to identify the root causes of the challenges facing the concession process and explore solutions to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
Moving forward, it is imperative for all stakeholders involved in port infrastructure concession to work collaboratively to address the identified shortcomings and implement necessary reforms to enhance transparency, accountability, and revenue generation in the sector. The House of Representatives will continue to oversee and monitor the progress of these efforts to ensure that the interests of the Nigerian government and the public are adequately protected and promoted.
He said: “From the brief we received from the affected parties and Ministries, departments, and Agencies”