Fresh facts emerged yesterday as to how Sifax Group Consortium; Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited emerged as the preferred bidder emerges for Terminal ‘B’ of Warri Old Port
Confirming the successful bidding which threw up the Consortium, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said yesterday that the company offered US$25. 5 Million for the port.
A statement by Amina Othman, Head, Public Communications, BPE said Ecomarine Consortium, the rival company, was disqualified for improper submission of its bidding documents.
She said Ecomarine’s bid price was not announced, adding that Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited’s emergence was however subject to the approval of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).
Shipping Position Daily recalls that Corporate Affairs Manager of Sifax Group; Muyiwa Akande, had on Wednesday broken the news of his company’s emergence. He had said that the concession is for a period of 25 years.
According to the Sifax statement, “the Expression of Interest for the port was advertised in 2014. At the deadline of the submission, of the EOIs, 13 applications were received. Out of the 13 applications, seven were pre-qualified. Out of these pre-qualified bidders, five were able to submit their technical and financial proposals on 31st January 2017, the deadline for submission of the proposals.”
“These five companies are Marine Infrastructure Consortium, Bright Ocean Integrated Services Limited, Ecomarine Consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited and Neon Warri Ports Consortium. At the end of the evaluation of the technical proposal, Ecomarine Consortium and Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited’s financial bids were qualified for the financial bid opening stage”
After the open transparent competitive bid process which is in line with international best practices, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited was declared the concessionaire of Terminal B, Old Warrri Port”.
Speaking immediately after the announcement, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group; Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, expressed his appreciation to both the BPE and NCP for the transparent exercise, adding that the concession will enjoy the same Midas touch that has now become the hallmark of SIFAX Group’s businesses.
“This is great news for us as a company to have led this consortium to win this very competitive bid. While we are glad that we have emerged the preferred bidder, we are not unaware of the enormous responsibility this victory has conferred on us. However, it is a familiar territory for us having operated the Terminal C at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos successfully in the last 12 years. We will fall back on the experience and expertise we have developed running the terminal to make a difference at the Warri Port”, he assured.
The BPE also added yesterday that the bidding was chaired by Mr Mohammad Ahmed, Chairman, Technical Committee, NCP, and was attended by many stakeholders, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
BPE Director General, Mr Alex Okoh, who was represented by Mr Aliyu Maigari, Director, Transport Department, said modest achievements had been recorded at the ports since the port concession programme commenced in 2005.
He said this informed the government’s determination to concession the Terminal ‘B’ Warri Old Port.
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