Stakeholder Faults Port Concession

Vice President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Uchu Block has faulted the nation’s port concession model, describing it as major setback to the local content policy.
He said in Lagos yesterday that the policy would make it difficult for Nigerians to take over from the present terminal operators after the agreed 25-year agreed period of concession.
He stated that, “since the concession of the ports in 2006, the NPA just handed over to the private sector to run the port.

Vice President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Uchu Block has faulted the nation’s port concession model, describing it as major setback to the local content policy.
He said in Lagos yesterday that the policy would make it difficult for Nigerians to take over from the present terminal operators after the agreed 25-year agreed period of concession.
He stated that, “since the concession of the ports in 2006, the NPA just handed over to the private sector to run the port.
“These concessionaires are to develop the ports within the time frame that they have been given to operate and then hand over to Nigerians.
“But they just operate without anybody checking them, nobody has been monitoring them. How many Nigerians are working there and who will take over after 25 years?
“So their mindset is that after 25 years if Nigeria does not have anybody to hand over to they will continue”.
He expressed disappointment with  what he called the level of decay at the ports in spite of the NPA- imposed port development levy.
“NPA collects 7 per cent port levy but most of the facilities in the port environment are not in good condition.
“There are portholes inside the ports let alone the ones outside the Tin Can Island Port gate. All these make the port environment very unfriendly.
“They promise to build ports in other places, but you cannot be in Lagos and be using the port in Bauchi just as those in Onitsha use the Lagos ports for lower cost and ease,” he said.
 
But, Mr Musa Iliya, the NPA Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, explained that the organisation still maintained the common-user facilities to ensure steady operation at the ports
“It is known that the NPA built the park and the fenders at the ports.
“The NPA also undertakes other operations such as dredging the port channels.
“It also handles the removal of wrecks and takes care of all common-user facilities as well as provides security at specific areas of the ports,” Iliya said.