A maritime lawyer, Barrister Osuala Nwagbara has suggested to the federal government the need for an independent power service provider to be included in the concession agreement.
The lawyer in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily, in Lagos on Wednesday stated that power distribution would enable the concessionaires to perform optimally and enhance effective port operations.
He suggested also that NPA should hands-off any form of power arrangement it had in the concession agreement with terminal operators and allow power distribution companies to fill-in the gap to enhance improved electricity.
Nwagbara urged power distribution companies to obtain license from the National Electricity Regulation Commission and focus exclusively on the ports environment.
He also noted that steady power supply to the ports through sector involvement will boost ports efficiency
According to him; electricity companies’ involvement in the ports would reduce the cost of running diesel at various terminals.
Speaking further, he noted that billions of naira has been spent on diesel supply, but that with an exclusive power service provider, the cost of diesel supply to the concessionaires will be cut down.
The foremost maritime lawyer maintained that port concession has contributed immensely to port development but added that issue associated with electricity is germane and there is need for it to be addressed by government.
"I suggest that an independent power provider be factored into another round of port concession such that areas that would be designated as port areas should be service by independent power providers who will have to obtain license from NERC and sale to the concessionaires which in improve efficiency at the ports"
" The issue of power provision in the hands of terminal operators is that NPA has an option of supply power to the concessionaires and even charge them for the cost providing this utility , they also have another option for the concessionaires to provide power themselves "
"Today we are talking about single window operations; where every documentation is influenced by electricity or power irrespective of shipping companies, customs,NIMASA and NPA,freight forwarder, importers and exporters everybody can't go into portal without electricity "
"Without efficient power supply to the ports system concession agreement will not be complete" , he stated.
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