The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, on
Thursday directed the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to
furnish his office with reports of concessionaires who had yet to comply with the
concession agreement.
Thursday directed the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to
furnish his office with reports of concessionaires who had yet to comply with the
concession agreement.
Idris,
who was represented by Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council (NSC), gave the directive in Lagos at a one-day
“Monitoring and Compliance Conference.’’
who was represented by Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council (NSC), gave the directive in Lagos at a one-day
“Monitoring and Compliance Conference.’’
He
said that the Federal Government decided to introduce ports reform to
improve efficiency in port operations.
said that the Federal Government decided to introduce ports reform to
improve efficiency in port operations.
Idris
said that the reform was meant to reduce the cost of port services and promote
competition in provision of port services.
said that the reform was meant to reduce the cost of port services and promote
competition in provision of port services.
He
said that the port reform was meant to make Nigerian ports the hub for
international trade and shipping in West and Central Africa sub-region.
said that the port reform was meant to make Nigerian ports the hub for
international trade and shipping in West and Central Africa sub-region.
“This
has made NPA the landlord and technical regulator, while the terminal operators
are now responsible for cargo handling and upgrading of facilities.
has made NPA the landlord and technical regulator, while the terminal operators
are now responsible for cargo handling and upgrading of facilities.
“The
concession has brought us increase in local and foreign investments in
infrastructure and cargo handling improvement which has increased cargo
throughput by volume of trade,” Idris said.
concession has brought us increase in local and foreign investments in
infrastructure and cargo handling improvement which has increased cargo
throughput by volume of trade,” Idris said.
Malam
Habib Abdullahi, Managing Director of the NPA, said that the authority had made
history in 2006 for concessioning the ports, following the economic reform
agenda of the government.
Habib Abdullahi, Managing Director of the NPA, said that the authority had made
history in 2006 for concessioning the ports, following the economic reform
agenda of the government.
Habib
said that the authority concessioned cargo handling operations to private
terminal operators through international competitive bidding.
said that the authority concessioned cargo handling operations to private
terminal operators through international competitive bidding.
“The
port concession arrangements devised roles and allocate different obligations
to both NPA and the concessionaries.
port concession arrangements devised roles and allocate different obligations
to both NPA and the concessionaries.
“Obligations
were allocated based on what each party can do best.
were allocated based on what each party can do best.
“These
issues relating to regulations, security, infrastructure, access, marine
service and channel management were allocated to NPA, ‘’ Abdullahi said.
issues relating to regulations, security, infrastructure, access, marine
service and channel management were allocated to NPA, ‘’ Abdullahi said.
He
said that on the other hand, issues of cargo handling, commercial risk,
provision of superstructure, terminal development and terminal labour were left
for the terminal operators.
said that on the other hand, issues of cargo handling, commercial risk,
provision of superstructure, terminal development and terminal labour were left
for the terminal operators.
Abdullahi,
however, said that NPA had set up an appropriate framework for monitoring and
compliance.
however, said that NPA had set up an appropriate framework for monitoring and
compliance.
“A
new division was established to carry out this task and report to the management
every quarter.
new division was established to carry out this task and report to the management
every quarter.
“This
task is handled by a committee comprising departments that have
responsibilities on the issue of obligations of the parties,’’ Abdullahi said.
task is handled by a committee comprising departments that have
responsibilities on the issue of obligations of the parties,’’ Abdullahi said.
He
said that the task of monitoring and compliance was key to NPA because it was
the vehicle that would enable the realisation of the added value of private
operators.
said that the task of monitoring and compliance was key to NPA because it was
the vehicle that would enable the realisation of the added value of private
operators.
Abdullahi
said that NPA was a direct beneficiary in the partnership with the
concessionaires, adding that it also represented other institutional
obligations as demanded by the concession agreement.
said that NPA was a direct beneficiary in the partnership with the
concessionaires, adding that it also represented other institutional
obligations as demanded by the concession agreement.
He,
however, said the eight years of port concession had been full of excitement
and challenges.
however, said the eight years of port concession had been full of excitement
and challenges.
Abdullahi
said the excitement had also saddled the organisation with the responsibility
of managing expectations of the concessionaires.
said the excitement had also saddled the organisation with the responsibility
of managing expectations of the concessionaires.
Also
speaking, Sen. Olugbenga Obadara, a member of the Senate Marine Committee,
commended NPA’s efforts for carrying out its obligations diligently.
speaking, Sen. Olugbenga Obadara, a member of the Senate Marine Committee,
commended NPA’s efforts for carrying out its obligations diligently.
“I
have visited all the terminals in Lagos and I love the way the managing
director of NPA handled the issue of bonded terminals with passion.
have visited all the terminals in Lagos and I love the way the managing
director of NPA handled the issue of bonded terminals with passion.
“The
NPA’s managing director also makes sure that the bonded terminals are able to
keep their businesses moving,’’ he said.
NPA’s managing director also makes sure that the bonded terminals are able to
keep their businesses moving,’’ he said.
Obadara
said an enabling environment and legislative responsibility were important.
said an enabling environment and legislative responsibility were important.
It would be recalled that 26 terminals were concessioned to
private terminal operators in 2006.
private terminal operators in 2006.
