The Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) has said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters that its policies were driving investors away from the nation’s ports, the organisation has attracted key global players who have also committed huge revenue into the development of the nation’s ports.
In a statement issued by the organisation and signed by Principal Manager, Public Affairs; Mr Ibrahim Nasir, the NPA disclosed that for instance, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is staking a whooping US$86,810,000.00into the Lekki Deep seaport project.
It also added that Dubai Port World is close to signing a deal with a terminal operator at Tin Can port in Lagos; Josepdam Port Services Limited.
According to the NPA, “proponents of the Lekki Deep Sea Port have recently informed the NPA of the readiness of the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to take up the balance of NPA’s equity to the tune of US$86,810,000.00(86 Million, eight hundred and ten United States Dollars) which the NPA is currently unable to bear. Both parties have already executed an agreement to this effect”.
The NPA said it was reacting to a story attributed to a faceless group; Committee of Maritime Professionals (CMP), which was reported to have accused the NPA of sending investors away through its policies.
According to the NPA, the report, which was based on a statement said to have been issued by the Committee of Maritime Professionals (CMP) alleged that the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman had continued in some “hard line posture” that is capable of frustrating investors and would be investors in the Nigerian maritime sector.
The NPA also said that the CMP cited the recent withdrawal of International Container Terminal Services, Incorporated (ICTSI) from the agreement to develop and operate a container terminal within the Lekki Port in Lagos as a justification for its assertion.
“It also cited the current breakdown in the contractual terms between NPA and the Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) as evidence of the NPA MD’s alleged unfriendly posture, which may soon lead to divestment in the sector. It imputed political undertones to the situation with Intels and alleged that NPA has continued to disregard contractual obligations”, the statement further explained.
The statement however explained that, rather than chasing investors away, its approaches have endeared Nigerian ports and related ventures to foreign investors who are already falling over themselves to bring their fortunes into Nigeria.
On the Josepdam / DP World deal, the NPA added that the, “globally-acclaimed Dubai Port World popularly known as DP World is also currently close to signing partnership agreement with Josepdam Port Services Limited, operators of the Bulk Terminal( Terminal A) at Tin Can Island Port Complex. This venture will see DP World deploying its resources to upgrade and deliver world class services at the facility.”
Buttressing its claim of FDI inflows into Nigerian ports, the NPA added that in addition to the Josepdam arrangement, it is also “currently working with DP World to actualise the organisation’s determination to invest in Greenfield port opportunities in this country. The plan is to develop a DP World Terminal in the Lagos area and a suitable site is currently being sought. Both the brownfield as evident in the agreement on the Bulk Terminal and the Greenfield are investments worth billions of United State Dollars”.
No done yet, the NPA added that, it is also convinced Tanger Med Port of Morocco to invest in variety of business areas in the Nigerian shipping sector.
“It is also noteworthy that Tanger Med Port of Morocco has equally indicated interest to invest in a variety of opportunities that the Nigeria economy presents. These include the development of Greenfield Terminal, Logistics Base and warehousing. Like the other listed above, this Foreign Direct Invest (FDI) also run into billions of dollars”, the statement added.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NPA is committed to realising the utmost potential of the maritime sector in the country. And in achieving this, the interest of the country is placed above any other factor including existing contractual agreements that may have short-changed the country”
“We must state emphatically that even in our enthusiasm to improve the ease of doing business and increase revenue accruable from our operations, we are guided by global best practices without any prejudices at all”, the NPA maintained.
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