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Tag: NPA

  • $195m Deep Blue HSL contract scam: Reps re-open investigation, summon NPA MD

    $195m Deep Blue HSL contract scam: Reps re-open investigation, summon NPA MD

    The House of Representatives Committee on Navy is set to re-open an alleged $195 million contract awarded to Deep Blue HSL International by the Ministry of Transportation in 2017 to provide coastal security surveillance for Nigerian waters.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports almost four years after, the House has revisited the matter to further dig deep into the alleged award of the contract without following due process as the money in question was not budgeted for by the National Assembly (NASS).

    Also to appear before the committee is the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to explain the role the agency allegedly played in the contract scam.

    The Committee on Public Petitions headed by Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, PDP, Ukwa East West of Abia State had investigated the matter in the 8th Assembly and found the ministry wanting and its report recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the contract.

    In a letter made available to TNG, the Committee will start another round of investigative hearing into the alleged contract scam.

    See letter below:

    The Chairman,

    Committee on Navy

    House of Representatives

    National Assembly

    Three Arms Zone

    Abuja.

    NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE “DEEP BLUE” CONTRACT TO HSL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (HR. 201/12/2021)

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 15 December, 2021, deliberated on the above subject and resolved to:

    Mandate the Committee on Navy to investigate:

    (a) the legality of the Deep Blue Contract agreement whether it is in line with extant Laws and Regulations;

    (b) the standards of all platforms purchased for the Nigerian Navy and determine whether they are according to specification(s);

    (c) the actual amount of money spent by the government on the Deep Blue Contract;

    (d) other matter(s) relating to the Deep Blue Contract and report within eight (8) weeks.

    2. The purpose of this letter is to convey the Resolutions of the House to you for further necessary action.

    3. A copy of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 15 December, 2021 is attached to this letter for your guidance.

    Question that the House do suspend Order Eight. Rule 4 (3) to enable it debate the matter forthwith –Agreed to 5.(a) The Motion: Wednesday, 15 December, 2021 No. 48

    Also worried that the payment of N59.839,930.000 made to the foreign company to secure and survey our Coastal waterways is astronomically higher than the annual capital expenditure budget of the Nigerian Navy which was N27.2 billion in 2019; 20 billion in 2020, 26 billion in 2021 and approved the proposal of 27 billion in 2022;

    Disturbed by allegations that HL SI has purchased more security surveillance equipment that was not in the original contract, thereby covertly using funds meant for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians to finance the security acquisitions of a foreign entity;

    Also disturbed that the standards of most of the platforms are not good enough which has also violated the contract agreement as it was alleged that some of the “newly procured ships have to be towed by Navy before they could even arrive in Nigerian waters;

    Resolves to:

    Mandate the Committee on Navy to investigate:

    (a) the legality of the Deep Blue Contract agreement whether it is in line with extant Laws and Regulations;

    (6) the standards of all platforms purchased for the Nigerian Navy and determine whether they are according to specification(s); the actual amount of money spent by the government on the Deep Blue Contract;

    (d) other matter(s) relating to the Deep Blue Contract and report within eight (8) weeks (Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu – Bende Federal Constituency).

    Meanwhile, the MD of NPA is to appear before the Navy committe panel of February 22.

    In a letter obtained by TNG, he is expected to provide all evidence of financial transactions with the company.

    Read letter in part below:

    NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE “DEEP BLUE” CONTRACT TO HSL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

    The House at its plenary dated Wednesday, 15 December 2021, deliberated on the above subject matter and mandated the House Committee on Navy to carry out further Legislative processes.

    2. In view of the above and pursuant to Sections 62, 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (1999) as amended, Order 17, Rule 9 of the Standing Order of the House, and other extant rules/ provisions on the control and management of public finances of the Federation with objective to ensuring public accountability, transparency, among others, the Committee is hereby requesting you to submit the following Documents/information listed and attend an Investigative Hearing as stated below:

    i. Contract Agreement(s) between the Federal Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and any other relevant legal document(s) that is related to Deep Blue Contract with HSL International Ltd.

    ii. List of ALL items/equipment and platforms including ships, Helicopters, Arms and Ammunitions procured by the Deep Blue Contract with HSL International Ltd. as indicated in Annexure i.

    ili. List of ALL items/equipment and Platforms purchased and the cost implication(s) including details of installment payment(s) made. This should include name of contractors, equipment manufacturers, addresses of companies, countries of their origin and phone numbers.

    iv. The total amount of money spent by the Nigerian Government regarding to ALL the contracts.

    v. All procurement processes and details of each of the contract(s) or items/equipment

    vi. Any other relevant information and document(s) relating to the Deep Blue Contract with HSL International Ltd.

    3. Note that all correspondences must be submitted in One (1) soft copy and fifty-five (55) hard copies.

  • NPA introduces measures to address Apapa gridlock

    NPA introduces measures to address Apapa gridlock

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has introduced various measures to address the endemic vehicular gridlock in Apapa, its acting Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, has said.

    A statement by Mr Olaseni Alakija, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, quoted the NPA as outlining the measures in a TV breakfast show in Lagos.

    It quoted Bello-Koko as saying that the increasing deployment of the electronic call-up infrastructure for cargo trucks, popularly known as ‘Eto’, launched in February, had greatly resolved the Apapa vehicular gridlock.

    “Five months after assuming office as the acting managing director, the incremental deployment of the electronic call-up infrastructure for cargo trucks, known as ‘Eto’, launched in February has, to a large extent, resolved the Apapa vehicular gridlock.

    “The authority keeps reviewing and improving on the system.

    “While the authority is not unmindful of the pains of Apapa residents, what remains is to address the gridlock caused by the failed portion, along the Mile 2 to Tin-Can Port road.

    “As soon as the entire stretch of the Tin-Can Port highway is completed, the perennial gridlock within Apapa wil be completely eliminated.

    “After this, the NPA will fully deploy the ‘Eto’ call-up infrastructure, for trucks along the Tin-Can Port corridor,” he said.

    Debunking insinuations that the ‘Eto’ system had been compromised, the NPA boss explained that a comprehensive review of the system had been done.

    He added that the system manager had been directed to, as a matter of urgency, address all areas of deficiencies.

    Bello-Koko noted that with the infrastructure upgrades, coupled with the support of the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders, the vehicular gridlock along the Ijora – Apapa axis, had reduced by over 80 per cent.

    He further stated that the authority had fully embraced multimodal transportation by encouraging better use of barges and port-rail.

    According to him, this has enhanced the movement of laden and empty containers in and out of the ports, a development that has brought significant reduction in the cost of doing business at the ports.

    “As part of efforts to kick-off the electronic call up system, a fully automated transit truck park was established.

    “Already, 29 satellite parks have been approved to ensure that trucks coming to do business in the port are properly profiled and verified.

    “Out of the 29 parks, about eight have met the required standards, which include installation of bollards, CCTVs, automated gate systems and relevant information technology equipment,” he said.

    He added that the e-call-up system had streamlined cargo evacuation and truck movements.

    According to him, this is apart from few isolated cases, where some truck drivers tried to subvert the system by not adhering strictly to the truck manifest and arrangement, with its attendant disruption,

    Bello-Koko added that the technology in place had brought a level of sanity to the roads.

    He also attributed the elimination of the Apapa gridlock to the new policy introduced by the authority.

    According to him, the policy compels shipping lines to ship out no less than 80 per cent of the number of containers shipped in, for every voyage, be it empty containers or export cargo.

    “Over time, we discovered that most shipping lines were storing their empty containers in Nigeria, which was cheaper for them.

    “But we have introduced a policy whereby shipping companies should take back 80 per cent of the laden containers they brought into the country from the stock of empties and export cargo.

    “This has also reduced the number of trucks with empty containers waiting on the roads.

    “What this means in a lay man’s language is that, if a vessel brings 100 containers, for instance, such vessel must take back 80 containers which must be among the empties and export containers, without which she will not be allowed to sail out of the ports,” he said.

    The NPA boss declared that a total of 80,000 trucks had so far registered on the ‘Eto’ platform.

    He noted, however, that only 16,000 of them had met the minimum safety standards, which was an indication that more work needed to be done to enthrone safety and prevent accidents within the port area.

    Bello-Koko said that the authority had also embarked on ‘operation green’, through which all illegal structures and shanties on port access roads in Apapa were cleared.

    According to him, the move formed part of efforts to ensure free flow of traffic in the area.

    He stated that barge operators were now being guided by revised standard operating procedures (SOP).

    Bello-Koko said that this was to ensure efficient and safe barge operations, urging owners to comply with the rule, if they wanted to operate.

    “When we approved the use of the barges, we discovered that many of them (operators), did not have radio communication equipment on board and we directed them to install the equipment.

    “We also insisted that these barges must be sea worthy before they are allowed to sail, so as to forestall a situation where they breakdown at the middle of the channel, which would cause massive disruptions to shipping.

    “We are also developing an electronic call-up system for the barges, just like what we have for the trucks on the roads, so as to ensure that we streamline their operations,” he said.

  • Apapa gridlock my greatest headache – NPA MD

    Apapa gridlock my greatest headache – NPA MD

    The agonising traffic gridlock on the Apapa road leading to the port has constituted a major headache to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), its acting Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Bello-Koko, has said.

    Bello-Koko told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that the traffic congestion problem had defied solutions “for more than 10 years now”.

    With lots of trucks and other articulated vehicles always queueing to enter or come out of the Apapa port, the route is persistently chaotic with the heavy gridlock spanning several kilometres across Lagos.

    “At NPA, we believe that priority needs to be given to our export cargo, but the major challenge for me is how to solve the gridlock in Apapa.

    “One of the first executive actions I took when I was appointed was to visit the Tin can Apapa corridor to ensure that the right things are done and the right infrastructure is deployed. We are getting there gradually.

    “We have put in measures to minimise the congestion in and around the port. NPA was using manual manifest and call up system which was not very effective because of human interference.

    “We have brought in ETO (electronic call-up system), to ensure smooth inward and outward movement of cargo from the port.

    “The company, TTP was given Lilly ponds on when they should operate. The idea was to ensure that all trucks coming in are supposed to move from trailers parks to Lilly ponds then to the port.

    “They were supposed to have deployed some physical and electronic infrastructure but that was not done. When I was appointed, I gave them ultimatum to ensure that those items are installed as quickly as possible.

    “I can assure you today that there has been more deployment of assets by TTP.

    “I also requested that we need to sit down and reappraise what they have achieved. Incidentally.

    “ETO was 90 days old when I resumed. We did an analysis to see where we are, what has been achieved and we identified where the gaps were. So, what I did was to push for immediate implementation of the agreement between us and TTP.

    “The idea of enforcement, whatever you come up with, there must be enforcement, so we liaised with the Lagos State Government to ensure that we have the right security operatives on ground.

    “We have also collaborated with Lagos State Government through Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASMA), which has brought a bit more sanity to the system.

    “Because of our intense focus, there is already some improvement. There is better flow of traffic. But let me finally say that the major hindrance to ETO is the road.

    “The Tin Can corridor is bad. We have had discussions with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that the construction company deploys its gadgets to start construction around that area.

    “We have also complained about multiple checkpoints which we have tried to reduce because it is bringing a lot of extortions and creating a lot of traffic.

    “The final issue is the stakeholders themselves; they need to buy into this. I keep saying that the worst of ETO is better than the best of the last system that we were using,” he said.

    He said that NPA had met with stakeholders and agreed that any truck park that did not install CCTV, ensure proper convenience for vehicle owners and drivers and had no automated gate system should be delisted.

    “The idea is for the truck parks to be dovetailed into the ETO system,” he declared.

    He also spoke on other challenges at the port and agreed that some were caused by people out to sabotage NPA’s efforts.

    “What we have observed is interference by government agencies and the stakeholders themselves.

    “Rather than pay the ETO ticket, they find a way to bring in military men. You find out that at night, military men escort vehicles which is sabotage.

    “The stakeholders themselves need to buy into the ETO system. We have had Town Hall meetings with stakeholders to let them understand that this is a system that we are not going to change.

    “The world has gone automated, so we need to reduce human interference.”

    The managing director also complained about the activities of touts generally referred to as “area boys”.

    “They (area boys) are involved in extortion and find ways to divert these trucks. We discovered a building not far away from Apapa gate where one can get a number plate printed in less than 20 minutes.

    “This number can be used to get an ETO ticket. We have told the security agencies; they have raided the building and investigations are ongoing. So, we are moving from the normal ETO that has digits to QR codes which are difficult to duplicate.

    “There are also saboteurs even among our staff. We have had to issue queries to NPA staff involved and we are taking actions.

    We have sent some home to allow for proper investigation. Others have been queried and some have been moved across ports.

    “We have made it clear that we shall not tolerate saboteurs in the system no matter where they are coming from,” he said.

    He emphasised that for the ETO system to work properly, there has to be multiple trailer parks.

    “We advertised and people showed interest in providing the parks that NPA will use for the ETO.

    “We gave them what was needed for them to qualify: uninterrupted power supply because of the CCTV and the automated systems, Internet access network, and Automated gate systems.

    “Some of them have started while some of them have not. Those that have not deployed, we have given them a few more days but I think that in not more than 10 days, any park that does not meet those requirements, we will delist it and give others a chance.

    “If the parks are not effective and don’t meet what we want, then the efficiency of ETO will also be affected. We have given them a couple of days after which we will delist any one of them that doesn’t meet the requirements.

    “As at our last meeting, the decision is to give them maximum of two weeks,” he said.

  • Osinbajo calls for review of port dues on petrol

    Osinbajo calls for review of port dues on petrol

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a review of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) dues on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol to reduce pressure on the price of the product in the country.

    Osinbajo made the call at the Valuechain Magazine 2021 fourth annual lecture and awards, in Abuja, on Monday

    The theme of the Lecture is “Enhancing effective synergy between oil and gas and maritime sectors for greater value creation.’’

    Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, he said that there was a need for a review of dues at the ports for ease of doing business.

    “You will agree with me that the maritime sector remains pivotal to the oil and gas sector in our country.

    “The issues bordering around regulation 2014 has been brought to my notice, the implementation of regulation, especially this time the country is coming out of the global oil crisis

    “I, therefore, urge that you keep the implementation in view to a more suitable time for our economy .

    “In the same vain, I call on the NAP to review as it relates to the price of the PMS, Mr President has given his approval for a downward review, this, we believe will further rejuvenate the pressure in the pump price of the white product,’’Osinbajo said

    He noted that insecurity was one major challenge with the maritime operations and commended NIMASA for facilities in place to check the situation.

    “I am very happy with the facilities NIMASA have in place to tackle insecurity in the maritime sector because if you want to really talk about reducing the cost of production in the oil and gas sector, you must touch security.

    “Security is one of the main cost drivers in the industry and that is what we have been discussing. So, if they are going to tackle security in the maritime sector, they must work with the oil and gas sector.

    “This is because today the oil and gas sector is bedeviled by a lot of security issues which have brought up the cost of production to levels that are too high,” he added.

    He commended the organisers for the lecture, noting that, the theme of the event was apt as there was the need for maritime and oil and gas sector to synergise for economic growth and value addition in the country.

    In his keynote address, the Group managing Director, the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari, said the maritime and the oil and gas sector had many things in common.

    Represented by the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Mr Yusuf Usman, said that available statistics showed that there were over 20,000 ships working for the oil and gas sector in the Nigerian waters with over 600 million dollars in service .

    “There are over 20,000 ships working for the oil and gas in the Nigerian waters with an annual expenditure of over 600 million dollars in the upstream sector.

    “The oil sector spend three billion dollars on marine vessels between 2014 and 2018 of which 73 per cent was spent on crude boat, security and power supply intervention.

    “This reflects the huge potential in the sector as we aspire to grow our production to three million barrels per day. Without doubt, the potential of the Nigeria blue economy is huge and remain largely untapped for the benefit of the country,” he added.

    Earlier in his welcome remark, the Publisher and Editor in Chief of Valuechain Magazine, Musa Bashir Usman, noted that maritime had always been of strategic importance to the oil and gas industry.

    “The importance of the two sectors is attested to the value they add to the Nigerian economy.

    “ The maritime as well as the oil and gas sector have greater potential contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, Usman added.

    He said that the lecture was expected to provide answers to some major problems that had been affecting the sector.

  • Untold story of how Hadiza Bala Usman allegedly violated all procurement laws

    Untold story of how Hadiza Bala Usman allegedly violated all procurement laws

    …ran NPA like a personal outfit
    …disregarded supervisory ministry
    …failed to remit N165bn into CRF
    …diversion of CSR to north-west states
    …need to use telescopic device to examine her five-year reign
    As Nigerians patiently await the findings of the 11-man panel set up to unravel the alleged scam perpetrated by the suspended former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, there’s need for Nigerians to know the level of her atrocities.
    Recall that the suspended NPA boss had to vacate her office to create room for a proper probe into all the contracts she awarded without following due process.
    To this end, an 11-man administrative panel was set up by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to dig out the rot in NPA.
    It was alleged that she ran NPA like a personal property as in most cases the suspended Hadiza deliberately and flagrantly violate due process using Aso Rock contacts.
    But those who are sufficiently privy to the operations of the NPA and its supervisory ministry do know that she has been having a free reign, as the Transportation minister does not micromanage his appointees.
    It was also gathered that her failure to remit N165B into the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) is crucial and at the nexus of the crisis rocking the NPA.
    The Budget Office of the federation had raised an alarm on the under-remittance from the NPA?
    Those who do not know should ask the senate about their findings in their over-sight functions in the transactional details of the NPA. Any one still doubting what the Budget Office said should listen to Senator Hassan Mohammed who said, the NPA had failed to remit over N177 billion into the federation account.
    She however argues that the figure quoted by the Budget office are at variance with reality.
    * In November 2019, a board meeting agreed that rather than expend as much as N50 billion annually on the dredging of the ports, it should buy its own equipment and dredge the ports by itself.
    The idea was that in two or so years , both equipment and manpower (including the requisite technical skill) would have been acquired.
    But she preferred the continuous award of the contracts for obvious reasons.
    It was the failure of Hadiza to follow this instruction that led to the formal memo of the Ministry in February 2021, directing that the NPA should buy its own equipment , train necessary people to undertake the dredging.
    This, again, was defied as she circumvented the supervising ministry to procure approval for the award of the contract, directly from the presidency.
    Can she explain what happened to the first audit report of 2018? Is it true that the initial audit report was so damning on the integrity of the NPA that it had to be withdrawn? For the records, the Auditor General’s Office had remarked that the NPA books were riddled with sundry accounting deficiencies, irregularities and errors, while blaming the suspended NPA boss for “gross betrayal of public trust” by flagrantly by-passing official Due Process in most of her transactions.
    For months, everybody was searching for the 2018 audited reports, right from the office of the Auditor General through the National Assembly to even the NPA itself. It vanished! And when it eventually resurfaced, it had been thoroughly cleaned up, re-worked and deodorized.
    There were queries on excessive and constantly increasing administrative cost including excessive cost on hotel accommodation, under-disclosure of expenditure on hotel expenses.
    The 2018 audit had also indicted her of unremitted deduction to Federal Inland Revenue Service to include N3,667,750,470, $148,845,754.04, Euro 4,891,449.50 and 252,682.14 British Pounds
    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had refused to attend to her requests on award of contracts because they circumvented the laid down Due Process, as most of NPA’s memos were not routed through the Supervising ministry, which the BPP said, invalidated the memos.
    She allegedly warmed herself into the people at the presidential Villa, including the Chief of Staff to Mr President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari (who was her father’s colleague as co-lecturer at the ABU)
    * Those in defence of her should ask her who gave her the approval to expend N1.2 Billion on “office cars” after the #EndSARS protesters attacked the NPA? Does she have the right to expend above her threshold of N5million, without the approval of the Board or the supervising ministry?
    How does Hadiza explain the billions of Naira she expends on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) every year? What is more, the CSR are usually in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina etc? what is the business of the NPA in those states? Is there any port in the entire north? The closest, perhaps, is the Ship House in Abuja, which does not even approximate the shadow of a port.
    Or in the many IDPs where she splurges public funds mindlessly? How is buying wrapper for women a CSR affair? How much of the CSR is done for the communities where the NPA really operates? Many people are asking if she is using public funds to feather her own political nest
    Many people have also dabbled into the so-called INTELS contract without understanding the underlying tone thereof.
    Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government, in its wisdom, had directed through the Bureau of Public Procurement that no new non-urgent contracts should be awarded.
    That meant that there should be the maintenance of status quo ante. But no, Madam MD wanted to be more catholic than the Pope and insisted on awarding a fresh contract.
    In her determination she scaled over the ministry to the BPP, and when that one did not work, she went to lobby the presidency to get approval for the award of a fresh contract.
    She conducted a kangaroo Bid process, which expectedly found the existing contractor wanting. So, the contract was then awarded to…, guess who, Aliko Dangote who not only has more than ethno-filia relationship with her but has also benefited immensely from Hadiza administration of the NPA.
    What is more, even when the dredging contract was awarded to Dangote, it was still NPA Staff that are used to do the job, yet, she argues mendaciously that the NPA does not have the requisite skill set and manpower to do the job? Who is fooling who?
    As a little digression can somebody tell her that until 2004, under the Chief Adebayo Sarumi MD-ship, NPA used to undertake all the dredging tasks of the ports.
    The NPA had dredging vessels such as Suction Dredger—Md SD Sea Lion, SD Gumel and SD River Tiga. They maintained the Lagos Channels faithfully. But under Sarumi, they privatized the Harbour Department, Dredging and the Pilotage units. Where are those equipment? Where are those men? Nigerians hope it is not the same NPA equipment and manpower that are being used, yet it is being presented as a privatized venture? It is an area the Administrative panel must carefully look into.
    This same Dangote has enjoyed sundry waivers, including cancellation of port charges for over a thousand containers, to the detriment of the federal purse, courtesy of Madam Hadiza
    questionable discretion, yet records indicate that he (Dangote) is still owing the federal government over $38million. Is anybody still wondering why there is an under-remittance? Not only is he granted an unfair edge over and above his competitors, HBU also exempted Dangote from paying in USD while the same NPA insists that other competitors to Dangote pay in USD. What is more, terminals and platforms are arbitrarily cancelled and awarded in favour of Dangote. Many have wondered why HBU, in pursuit of her personal relationship with Dangote, has practically short-changed the entire federation. And they talk about equity?
    The NPA runs an annual budget of N400billion. Which of the 19 northern states, including HBU’s Kaduna State runs any budget near that? Does HBU not understand the common wisdom that it is the colour of the feather that defines the bird?
    The Administrative panel will also do well to do a forensic examination in checking how proxy persons and companies have been used time and time again to harvest contract awards from the NPA
    Finally, what degree of insurbordination was HBU showing to her boss? For over three years, HBU had over-rated herself as being too big to attend inter-parastatal board meetings of the ministry. She kept sending a junior manager to represent the NPA. It was not until a new Perm Sec, Dr Mrs Magdalene Ajani, replaced the former PS who retired, refused to attend to NPA memos and budgets, unless HBU attended the meetings by herself, did HBU start attending the meetings. What else was keeping HBU away from such meetings, if not butterfly thinking itself a bird?
    In pursuit of the belief in her connection with the powers that be, she bye-passed the MOT and headed straight to the Presidency, enroute the Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari to procure a second term, without the recommendation and approval of the MOT, as the Public Service ACT prescribes.
    Being haughty and toxic are two behavioural toxins that limit the height a person can attain. Those vaunting and condemning the suspension should not forget that the same powers that caused the suspension were the same power that brought forth HBU in the first place and allowed her run the show for over six years. They must not forget that the technology that produced the pencil is the same technology that produced the eraser.

  • Poor Hadiza Bala Usman, forced to grow too quickly – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa.

    HADIZA Bala Usman, politician and social activist, was until last Thursday, May 6, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. But on that day, President Muhammadu Buhari yanked her off and ordered an investigation of her stewardship in the agency. As in almost all such cases, the report of the investigation may never not see the light of day. Usually, such investigations are to keep the concerned official quiet while the report will be kept handy, in case the need arises to descend on such officials. In Nigeria’s dog-eat-dog system, the father can devour the daughter and life will simply go on.

    However, I am more inclined to sympathise with her because in my analysis, she was built to fail; the job given her was a technical, not political one. The mandate of the NPA is to develop, own and operate ports and harbours, provide safe and navigable channel, offer cargo handling and storage services, maintain port facilities and equipment, ensure safety and security and develop and own property. The agency is involved directly in, or supervising cargo handling, stevedoring, warehousing and delivery, acquisition of cargo handling and operations related equipment, development and maintenance of ports’ superstructure, maintenance of safety and security within the terminal, towage, mooring, bunkering, ship chandelling and ship repairs. These are core technical jobs, not job for the boys or girls.

    To head such a technical octopus organisation, Usman came with a first degree in Business Administration and a second in Development Studies. Her work experience was mainly in the Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, world. She began work in 1999 as a Research Assistant in the Democratic Development and Research Training Centre established by her father, professor Bala Usman. Then as Enterprise Officer with the Bureau of Public Enterprises from July 2000 to August 2004. From October 2004 to January 2008, She was Special Assistant, Project Implementation to the Federal Capital Minister, and was from 2011 to July 2015, Director of Strategy of the NGO, Good Governance Group for Nigeria when she was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State. The following year, she was handed the NPA post.

    So, with no requisite technical knowledge or competence and insufficient managerial experience, she was placed at the apex of the NPA and made to run the agency even before learning how to crawl. It was like placing the head of an elephant on a child’s head to carry. That was what the Buhari administration did to poor Hadiza. Given the circumstances and the mindset, her performance was bound to be controversial.

    To me, her most controversial steps and decisions evolve around a dispute between an indigenous company and a foreign contractor who had entered into a partnership on a project. The Federal Government had in 2006 leased a Free Zone land to the company. But the contractor had in 2017 approached the NPA for direct deals, thereby bypassing the Nigerian company. However, the NPA under Usman, in a November 6, 2017 letter, advised the foreigners to channel their applications through the Nigerian company which had the land lease.

    On November 26, 2018, President Buhari approved a new 25-year Presidential lease of the land to the Nigerian company. This was conveyed to the company by the parent Ministry of Transport, while the NPA under Usman implemented the Presidential approval by accepting the Nigerian company’s consent letter and receiving its lease payments for the years 2018 –2020 for which it issued receipts.

    But in a strange twist, the Usman NPA management on November 14, 2019, without giving the Nigerian company any hearing or notice, carved out 11.2426 hectares of the leased land and handed it to the foreign contractors. When the company protested and pointed out that the NPA’s actions amounted to overriding a Presidential decision, the Usman administration began to give excuses for its illegal actions.

    First, it claimed the company subleased that portion of the land without permission. But the company put a lie to that by producing the permission the NPA had given it five years earlier. Then, it changed gear by claiming the Nigerian company did not forward the sublease agreement timeously. Again, the company punctured this claim. Then the Usman management accused the company of subleasing the land at a higher rate than it pays NPA. The company’s response was that first, there is no rent control or ceiling. Secondly, that it had developed the leased land with over $100 million, including a $25 million loan from the Bank of Industry, N6.09 Billion loan from the Central Bank and a $25 million loan guaranteed by the Nigeria Local Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB. So, it cannot sublease a developed land at the same rate it pays the NPA for a swampy land.

    The Nigerian company also claimed that the foreign contractor had manipulated documents leading to the watering down of its shared ratio from the initial 80:20 per cent, to 30:70 per cent in favour of the contractor. The contractor used the lease documents the NPA had given it to apply to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, to be granted the status of a free zone. But the latter rejected it on the basis that the company needed Presidential approval and that from its records, the land in question belonged to the Nigerian company.

    The company petitioned the Federal Government, and the Ministry of Justice stepped into the case. The foreign contractor agreed to abide by the Ministry’s arbitration. The Ministry having heard all sides and consulted bodies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NEPZA, NCDMB, Customs and the Industry and Trade Ministry, on January 30, 2020, issued its 14-page findings personally signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN.

    The Ministry found that the NPA’s “actions amount to an attempt to unilaterally overturn Mr President’s 2018 actions(that) NPA did not follow the law and due process…” The findings also showed the NPA violated the indigenous company’s tenant rights and worked with the foreign contractor “to attempt to usurp” the company’s lease and investments in favour of the foreign contractor. The Justice Ministry also directed the restoration of the 80:20 per-cent shareholding ratio of the project in favour of the local company because a so-called agreement cannot be used to amend a subsisting law.

    But Usman felt she was the authority at the NPA, was untouchable and would not abide either by the Ministry’s findings or the country’s laws.

    While having a good pedigree as the daughter of the dogged fighter, Prof Bala Usman, who was a mentor to many of us, Hadiza Bala Usman is symbolic of some of the things wrong with Nigeria and why we are not developing.

  • Amaechi inaugurates 11-man panel to investigate NPA activities

    Amaechi inaugurates 11-man panel to investigate NPA activities

    Following the financial infractions allegedly perpetrated by Hadiza Bala-Usman, the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Monday, inaugurated an 11-man panel to investigate the activities of the agency from 2016 till date.

    REcall that on May 6, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recommendations of Amaechi to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the management of the NPA under the leadership of Hadiza.

    Inaugurating the panel on Monday, the Minister charged the members to be diligent in order to do a thorough job.

    The committee’s terms of reference, include examining and investigating the administrative policies and strategies adopted by NPA’s Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 till date.

    Others include “examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court ruling and presidential directives.

    “Examine and investigate compliance with communication channels, as obtained in the public service. “Examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date.

    “Come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of NPA and forestall such occurrences in the future.

    “And any other matter that may be necessary for the course of the assignment.” In his brief remarks, Amaechi noted that the decision to take a look at the books of the agency is in furtherance of the mandate of the ministry to oversee the activities of agencies and parastatals under its supervision. He said: “This is in the discharge of our responsibility as a ministry and I don’t see why anybody is complaining.

    “What is wrong in looking at what is happening in NPA? I don’t see what is wrong in that. As the Minister of Transportation for four years, I hardly know what is happening and I want to know now.

    “The president agrees with me that it’s my responsibility as minister to find out what is going on “It worries me that people are saying we should not ask questions. Nobody has been indicted.

    “Can we know what is going on in NPA? That’s the question. “If everything is right, why do we have to bother at the end of the day? “When you have completed your assignment, we will be glad to pass on the report to the President, but don’t forget your assignment will include activities of procurement and its processes from 2016 till date. “And that is why you do not have a time limit. So, it will take you some time. You are not auditing, but finding out the processes.

    “Please be diligent, invite anybody you want to invite, including the minister, if there are infractions you need me to clarify,” he said. According to Amaechi, NPA is an agency that manages maritime trading activities in Nigeria which is expected to generate huge resources for the government to run the country.

    Also speaking, Minister of State (Transportation), Senator Gbemisola Saraki said the investigation was within the purview of the ministry.

    “This is why the ministry supervises and part of that role is looking, asking questions, and ensuring that things are done with due process. “For the panel, there is so much noise, so it’s best you block your ears. Keep your head down and do what is in the interest of the entire country,” Saraki said.

    Responding, Chairman of the committee, Suleiman Auwalu, who doubles as Director of Maritime Services of the ministry pledged the commitment of other members to diligently carry out the duties assigned to them. “I assure you that we are going to work; we are going, to be honest, and fair in the discharge of this responsibility. ”At the end of the day, we want to turn up a report that will be true and it will be in the interest of the country. “So, we are seeking God’s guidance for us to do the right thing at the right time,” Auwalu said.

    The 11-man committee is made up of five directors from the Ministry while the remaining six, including the co-chairman, Ben Omogo, are drawn from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari last week, directed Hadiza Bala-Usman to step aside for the entire duration of the Investigation while directing Mohammed Koko (Director, Finance and Administration of NPA) to step in an acting capacity.

  • EXCLUSIVE: The letter to Buhari that ended Hadiza Usman’s second term tenure as NPA MD

    EXCLUSIVE: The letter to Buhari that ended Hadiza Usman’s second term tenure as NPA MD

    More information have emerged on the shocking suspension of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Usman was first appointed in 2016 following the sack of Habib Abdullahi whose second term was terminated by President Buhari few months after assuming office.

    However, Usman who only got confirmation of the renewal of her five-year second term tenure in January was just few months in office when the presidential axe struck.

    Findings by TNG however revealed that reasons for Usman’s suspension was not far fetched.

    Impeccable sources at the Ministry of Transportation which supervises NPA hinted that there has been no love lost between the Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Usman in recent times.

    The Minister in a letter directed to President Buhari on 4th March 2021 and exclusively obtained by TNG on Friday sought presidential approval that the account and remittances of the NPA (from 2016 – 2020) that Usman took over be audited to account for gross short fall of remitted public funds.

    Swiftly, President Buhari approved on March 17 that the minister should go ahead.

    Confirming Usman’s suspension on Thursday, TNG source at the Transportation Ministry said:

    “Yes, the MD was suspended earlier on Thursday but the minister will give full details on Friday.

    “The minister and some members of staff of the ministry are presently in Jos for a programme and he is scheduled to brief the press on the issue.

    “No reason was given for her suspension but I can confirm to you that she has been suspended,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the president has since appointed the Director of Finance, Mohammed Koko, as acting MD while investigations into some activities of the suspended MD is on going.

     

  • JUST IN: Buhari reappoints Bala-Usman as NPA MD

    JUST IN: Buhari reappoints Bala-Usman as NPA MD

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for additional five-year tenure.

    This was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, and made available to State House Correspondents on Thursday.

    Also approved is the reconstitution of the Non-Executive Board of the NPA, with Mr Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye (from South-West zone) as Chairman.

    Other members of the Board are: Prince Ekenyem Nwafor-Orizu (South-East zone), Akinwunmi Ricketts (South-south zone), Ghazali Mohammed Mijinyawa (North-East zone), Mustapha Amin Dutse (North-West zone), and Abdulwahab Adesina (North-Central zone).

    Read Also: Buhari approves nomination of Fikpo as acting DG of NDE
    The President has equally approved Board members for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), who will oversee the selection of a new Managing Director for the organization. They are: Muhammad K. Ahmad, OON, (Chairman), Chief Henry Okolo, Imamudden Talba, Ambassador Usman Sarki, Ali Haruna, Engr. Simeone Atakulu, Zubaida Mahey Rasheed, Dr Mustapha Abiodun Akinkunmi, Engr. Oladele Amoda, and Dr Nkiru Balonwu.

    Other members of the TCN Board are: Representatives of Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Power, Bureau for Public Enterprise, FGN Power Company Limited, and Executive Management of TCN.

  • Senate seeks comprehensive audit of NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, others

    Senate seeks comprehensive audit of NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, others

    The Senate has called on the acting Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Adolphus Aghughu, to focus more on the financial activities of big revenue generating agencies instead of smaller ones.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), made the call on Monday during the 2021 budget defence of the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

    Urhoghide urged the AuGF to ensure a comprehensive auditing of the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, among others.

    He said, “You claim that you are auditing the account of the federation and you won’t touch the accounts of the NNPC, NPA, NIMASA among others.

    “You will remove all the big spenders from your watch list but you will focus on smaller agencies. That is what has been happening from 2015 till date.

    “We don’t want to be seeing these smaller agencies of government that you are focusing on because they can’t settle well. We are tired of seeing audit queries involving municipal councils leaving behind the big agencies.”

    Urhoghide said his committee would carry out further legislative works on what the AuGF was doing regarding the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    He said, “We are doing status enquiries on the Bureau of Public Procurement based on the Auditor General report.

    “We want to expand the scope. We want to look at their revenue and expenditure profile. We will look at the budget, particularly the Internally Generated Revenue.

    “We want to see everything they have been collecting and how they’re spending it.

    “We have asked the secretariat to write them and invite them. The indictment of the Auditor General is correct. They could not even defend the queries issued against them by the Auditor General.”

    Urhoghide advised the AuGF to be proactive instead of waiting for corrupt activities to occur before taking action.

    He said, “Your negligence has led to the institution of corruption. Why should you wait for corruption to be consummated in Nigeria before you act?

    ‘You should undertake performance audit at every stage of construction. You shouldn’t wait till the project is completed before raising the alarm and allow EFCC to step in and collect huge sums to fight corruption.

    “It is because the auditors allow it. You are part of the cause of corruption in Nigeria.”

    He also told the AuGF to shun internal wrangling and tribal conflict that could affect their operations negatively.

    He also threatened that the Senate might not hesitate to advertise the office of the AuGF if the internal hostilities continue.

    He said, “The infighting among you must stop. There is no regulation that says that an external person cannot be Auditor General.

    “The office of the Auditor General is not a progressive union affair. That position can be advertised.

    “People can apply from within or outside and we could employ anybody from the office or outside the office.”