Bello-Koko said: “It is these fine details that are being worked on, but I believe within the month, they will be finalized and sent to FMOT, FMOJ, BPE, ICRC accordingly.” .
By Uzor Odigbo
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has said that the new agreement will factor in the port modernization agenda of the Federal Government.
Speaking in Lagos about the processes of renewal of the concession, Bello-Koko assured a speedy conclusion of the process.
He, however, said that the 2006 agreement is outdated and the federal government will leverage on the current renewal processes to factor in the new realities of the modern port development agenda that will make the leases more responsible for the maintenance of Quays, Fenders and allied matters such as port illumination.
According to him, the NPA is concluding discussions on the terms of the agreement and once that is sorted, the report will be sent to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ).“The agreements were signed in 2006 and while some have expired, some are still running.
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“But, the expired ones are being renewed and what we are looking at is what will be in the best interest of the country.
” What was agreed in 2006 is no more tenable, the demands of the country and of the NPA are different from what they were in 2006.”
“The federal government through the NPA is resolved to hold Terminal Operators more accountable under the new agreement, on maintenance as well as on deployment of modern equipment in sufficient quantity.”
“Two of the expired leases have agreed to invest in the development of the TinCan Port.
“The need to discuss with the other terminal operators whose leases have not expired became important since development will entail the whole berth.
“It is these fine details that are being worked on, but I believe within the month, they will be finalized and sent to FMOT, FMOJ, BPE, ICRC accordingly,” Bello-Koko said.
He pledged that the NPA management under his leadership will continue to uphold global best practices and ensure the best deal is secured for Nigeria.
Bello-Koko said that the new agreement will ensure that the operators are held accountable for their commitment to invest in port infrastructure to ensure efficiency.
“On the whole, the renewal of these leases has afforded NPA the opportunity to take a closer look at the Port Modernization project of the government, and preliminary agreements together with the renewal documents will be communicated to FMOT in a few days’ time.
The Minister of Transportation, Engr Muazu Sambo had in August, during his maiden visit to the Lagos ports after his appointment, directed the NPA to renew the expired concession agreements within 45 days, a pronouncement which stakeholders scooped at as not being feasible given the long processes involved in the exercise.