By Innocent Orok
The House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has summoned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola to address concerns regarding the management of port infrastructure concessions in the country.
Hon. Ibrahim Hamisu, who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, made this statement during a meeting held with seaport terminal operators in Abuja recently.
Hon. Hamisu raised concerns regarding the methods utilized in the awarding of the seaport terminal concessions.
Those who attended the session were Muhammed Bello- Koko, Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, (NPA), Mamman Ahmadu, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise and Michael Ohiani, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC).
The Nigerian ports were concession in 2006 to private operators with some to manage for 10 years, some 15 years and some for 25 years contracts.While some have long expired, neither the NPA nor the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy have been able to renew their contracts.
