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Tag: NPA

  • NPA generates N299.5bn revenue in 2017

    NPA generates N299.5bn revenue in 2017

    The Nigerian Ports Authority has generated N299.5 billion revenue in 2017, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Alhaji Abdullahi Goje, said in a a statement Tuesday in Lagos.

    He said that the figure exceeded the N162.2 billion generated in 2016 by 84.65 percent.

    Goje added that the 2017 figure was the highest generated revenue by the Authority in the past five years.

    “In 2013, the NPA generated the sum of N154.50 billion. This increased to N159.30 billion and N180.50 billion in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

    “The Authority’s revenue however dropped to N162.20 billion in 2016.

    “The 2017 figure declared by the Authority is made up of revenues from traffic, harbors, administrative and other sources of the sum of N136.04 billion, N66.80 billion, N86.06 billion and N10.75 billion respectively, ” he said.

     

  • Action against Intel has no political undertone, NPA MD, Usman, insists

    Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has reiterated for the umpteenth time that the recent spat with oil and gas logistics giant Intel Nigeria Limited partly owned by former Vice – President Atiku Abubakar is not political.

    Usman said, noting the issue between NPA and Intel over compliance with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) pre-dated the current administration.
    NPA had terminated the Pilotage Agency Agreement with Intel which seeks to break the monopoly of Intel in the handling of oil and gas cargoes at the port.
    Though the issue between the two agencies has been resolved, speculations were rife that the NPA rose against Atiku to demistify his financial muzzle having ran out of favour with the government.
    While featuring on Sam Omatseye’s Platform on TVC monitored by our correspondent, Usman insisted there was nothing political about asking Intel to comply with the TSA, the platform automating all government financial transactions.
    She said, “The issue with Intel is attributable to non – compliance with country’s Single Account as you are aware of TSA whereby all agencies of government are required to pay their revenues into this account.
    “Nigeria Port Authority had entered into this agreement whereby monies were collected by third parties, that was pre-TSA. So upon introduction of TSA, we asked everyone to comply but Intel was not willing to comply to collection of those revenues through TSA.
    “To say it is political is a complete distraction from the core contents of what it is. The issue of compliance with TSA actually started before this administration came in. Letters were written to Intel pre – Buhari administration when we said clearly you need to comply as you are aware the last administration had commenced TSA compliance. It had started it and we proceeded to do it continuously. And I would like to say that we spent a year discussing with Intel, asking them to comply and they refused to comply for over a year.
    “So I couldn’t understand how a private company operating in Nigeria would disregard our constitution, disregard our policies and rules and try to distract us by making it political. There is nothing political about asking you to comply, there is nothing political about you doing what is the statutory position in the country you are operating in.
    “So I’ll always say that Intel tried to distract us by making it political. Other companies that are complying, are they not operating? So maybe you are the one that are trying to politicise it by always operating outside of the law using your influence.
    According to her, operations of NPA have no political considerations.
    She added: “We have a level playing field for everybody. The rules apply to everyone. You must comply to what it is the rule even if you are friend of the government as it were, you must comply. You can’t operate outside of the law. I think they.
    I think they realized that because they have apologized and they complied but it needs not get to termination, that’s is what I mean. People need to be responsible as a corporate entity to comply with the laws of the land”.

  • NPA suspends operation of service boats to debtor companies

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has suspended service boats operations in all its pilotage districts until the full settlement of debts accruing from unpaid pilotage dues by IOCs and other beneficiaries of the services.

    The new measure is coming just as the organisation indicated that it might prevent Engina FPSO, which is due to arrive Nigeria in January, 2018 from accessing the Nigerian waterways.

    According to a statement signed by Abdullahi Goje, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications at the NPA, the decision to stop the operation of service boats to debtor companies followed the failure or refusal of the affected companies to honour their obligations to the Authority in spite of several reminders over a couple of months.

    The statement explained that given the fact that the companies, some of whose indebtedness run into tens of millions of dollars over a period of two years ignored the advice given by the NPA, the Authority had no choice but to pursue the new course of action, which the statement said had been communicated to all companies concerned.

  • NPA identifies waste as major cause of pollution in Lagos Lagoon

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday identified municipal waste as major materials causing pollution in Lagos Lagoon.

    Mr Yunusa Ibrahim, the Principal Manager, Environment Department of NPA said this in Lagos in an interview with the Newsmen.

    According to him, most municipal waste that ends up in the Lagoon gathers around the harbour areas in the morning and disappears to the other sides in the evening.

    ‘‘The environment department of NPA always creates awareness in the communities around the water areas on proper waste disposal and how poor waste management comes back to affect them negatively.

    ‘‘It is difficult to control the waste habits of the communities and also check the flow of municipal waste from channels into the Lagoon.

    ‘‘The department carries out daily surveillance of the channels emptying water into the Lagoon and also clean- up the waste as it affects ships badly.

    ‘‘Waste causes serious problems when it enters moving vessels,’’ he said.

    Ibrahim said that waste from vessels that berthed at the harbour was not disposed into the lagoon as there were companies outsourced to do it in line with international law.

    Ibrahim said that the NPA’s environment department had equipment to clean up oil spills in the ocean and the Lagoon.

    He said that the department drilled its pollution response squad monthly to effectively carry out clean-up of water areas any where pollution occurred within the nation’s territorial waters.

  • We won’t rush to court over NPA’s cancellation of contracts – Intels

    The management of Intels Nigeria Limited on Tuesday said that it will find an amicable resolution between it and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, rather than resort to court over the recently cancelled vessel Pilotage service contract by NPA,

    While giving an update on the matter, Mr. Mike Epelle, General Manager Legal, said that as a matter of policy, they would rather explore an amicable solution, stressing: “We don’t want to rush to court.”

    On the TSA issue, Epelle said that Intels had not refused into the Treasury Single Account, explaining that it did want its commission to be paid into the account.

    He further explained that Intels was ready to pay NPA’s dues from the collection of pilotage service into the TSA after its deduction would have been made, a suggestion NPA objected to insisting to have all collection paid and after reconciliation, Intels will receive its commission from port authority.

    He also said that in the agreement, there clauses for dispute resolution adding that NPA did not follow the mechanism before terminating the contract.

    He said “We could pay into TSA but not the manner NPA wanted, we want to keep our commission and pay what is due to NPA.

    “We told NPA to do TSA that is objective and applicable.”

    He explained that before Intels got the contract, NPA was making a paltry sum of $6.5million annually, after Intels took it over, it made over $200million in its first year adding that in another year, it made $210million.

    “Before we took over the contract of pilotage services, the government of Nigeria was losing billions of Naira as a lot of shipper owner evaded the payment of these dues and levies.

    “The contract entitles us to monitor the movement of vessels that come and Sail out of Nigeria, as vessels move in and out of the channels, they are expected to certain dues and levies.

    “When NPA was doing it, they were not efficient and government was losing money.”

    Epelle also faulted the interpretation of the contract by the Attorney General of the contract noting that the Attorney General does not have the authority to direct NPA to cancel the as a court of law has such authority.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman had on Monday maintained that the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision contract with INTELS remains terminated.

    The NPA boss told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that the contract was terminated on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami.

    According to her, the legal advice was contained in an AGF’s letter dated Sept. 27, 2017, which was a response to NPA’s May 31, 2017 letter in which it sought clarity on the matter.

    Usman said that she had raised letters and held several meetings with INTELS management to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) since she assumed office 15 months ago.

    “They (INTELS) maintained their stand not to make payment to NPA. They want to deduct 28 percent commission and other costs.

    “NPA says a TSA account has been opened and that at the end of the month, there will be reconciliation of accounts but INTELS refused.

    “Will I spend 15 months talking to a company to comply with the constitution of the country?” she asked.

    Usman explained that all further attempts by the NPA to get the company obey the payment directive was met with various excuses.

  • No going back on termination of NPA’s pilotage contract with INTELS – MD

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) boats pilotage monitoring and supervision contract with INTELS Nigeria Limited remains terminated, the authority’s Chief Executive, Hadiza Usman, has said.

    The NPA boss told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that the contract was terminated on the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minster of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami.

    According to her, the legal advice was contained in an AGF’s letter dated Sept. 27, 2017, which was a response to NPA’s May 31, 2017 letter in which it sought clarity on the matter.

    Usman said that she had raised letters and held several meetings with INTELS management to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) since she assumed office 15 months ago.

    “They (INTELS) maintained their stand not to make payment to NPA. They want to deduct 28 per cent commission and other costs.

    “NPA says a TSA account has been opened and that at the end of the month, there will be reconciliation of accounts but INTELS refused.

    “Will I spend 15 months talking to a company to comply with the constitution of the country?” she asked.

    Usman explained that all further attempts by the NPA to get the company obey the payment directive was met with various excuses.

    She said the NPA management would proceed on a transitional arrangement to engage another firm.

    On fear of job losses, the managing director said that the workers would be absorbed by any entity that took up the job.

    On repair of port access roads, Usman said she had sent so many letters to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to provide clarity on budgetary provisions for the port access roads.

    Similarly, she said that the bad state of Ikom Bridge in Cross River had not allowed containers to move to the northern part of the country.

    The Managing Director, however, said that it was not under the purview of the NPA to provide N1.8 billion for the rehabilitation of port access roads.

    On the controversial contract on buoys, she said that the NPA management had discovered concerned officers that misguided the authority on the contract.

    “We need buoys. We are going to buy more buoys.

    “We hope that the controversy will be resolved to enable the firm – Marina Energy- to continue,’’ she said.

     

    NAN

  • Lack of funds, underground gas pipes hindering construction of Apapa-Wharf road – NPA

    The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has said underground gas pipelines and a lack of funds is slowing down the pace of reconstruction works on the Wharf- Apapa road.

    Usman disclosed this over the weekend during an inspection of the road.

    The NPA director expressed disappointment at the rate of reconstruction currently going on the road adding that whatever was needed to increase the pace of work will be made available.

    Usman also said that she will be meeting with the officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement to ensure that whatever funds needed to work to continue the pace of work non-stop will be made available.

    “The level of work is unacceptable. I will meet with the Federal Ministry of works and Housing and the Bureau for Public Procurement and see how the pace of work on the road can be hastened

    “The quality of work done so far is satisfactory but the time within which the work must be completed is now the issue and I will keep inspecting the project every four weeks.

    “This would impact most positively on the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product-GDP.

    “NPA’s aggressive continuous monitoring strategy is aimed at ensuring that all the components required to meet deadlines are achieved.”

    Besides the issue of funding and underground gas pipelines, officials of the Ministry of works also said that the rainy season, traffic management issues, Security, logistics and supplies which are usually delivered at night were also causing challenges for the ongoing construction works.

    She noted “Efficiency” is key in the NPA’s operation, thus, all stones would be turned to actualize the reason for the ports roads rehabilitation which basically cascades to the stimulation of the Ease of doing business at the ports across the country.

    She opined that the role of Holding Bays in decongesting the traffic gridlock in Apapa is critical pointing out that a licensing regime on the subject is being perfected between the NPA and the Lagos State Government to enable operators in this regard to have access to the ports and function under guided directives.

    Usman noted that the deployment of an electronic device in the management of access to the ports- through Biometrics mechanism was underway and appealed to stakeholder and residents in and around Apapa to be patient while the road reconstruction lasts.

     

  • NPA board redeploys GMs, scraps zonal structures for Improved service delivery

    …assures staff of no job loss

    In a bid to enhance quality service delivery, the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has approved a new organisational structure.

    The board also approved the redeployment of all General Managers.

    NPA reduced the number of General Managers from 25 to 22; the upgrade of the Hydrography and Dredging Department into a Division status to be headed by a General Manager in recognition of its strategic importance to the Authority; the upgrade of the Information and Communications Technology Department into a Division to take more responsibilities from Departments like Utilities; the creation of a new Monitoring and Regulations Division; the merger of the Capital Projects and Maintenance Divisions into a single Engineering Division to eliminate redundancies; the scrapping of the Special Duties Division; scrapping of the zonal office structure such that departments in the ports will now report directly to the head office.

    Other decisions taken include: a change in the nomenclature of nine departments and divisions including Public Affairs, which will now be known as Corporate Communications; Overseas Office (London Office) intoInternational Liaison Office; Capital Projects and Maintenance Divisions now to be known as Engineering Division; Hydrography& Dredging Department now Hydrography Services Division; Monitoring and Compliance Division now Monitoring and Regulation Division; Commercial and Port Promotion Services Department now Tariff& Billing Department; Secretary/Legal Services now Legal Services; Insurance & Risk Management Department now Enterprise Risk Management Department andthe Business Development and Joint Venture Department into Public Private Partnership Division.

    The Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ibrahim Nasiru, in a statement on Friday explained that the far initiatives were aimed at making the NPA a truly professional and performance driven organisation.

    “The management noted that this review has become important because NPA’s structure has remained the same in spite of the 2006 concession which changed the Authority status from owner/operator to landlord.

    “This change in status brought about the concession of cargo handling operations to the private sector; outsourcing of dredging, towage services and vessel maintenance, use of contractors to build infrastructure.

    “The Authority is convinced that this new structure will enhance its capacity to; To meet its new mandate and strategic direction; Improve allocation and optimization of resources; Eliminate the duplication of resource and work duplication and Reduce cost to income ratio to the advantage of all stakeholders and Nigerians has a whole.

    “In addition to the above, the initiative will specifically forestall: the duplication of responsibilities across divisions; the unnecessary bottleneck currently created by the zonal office structure; redundancies created by the transfer for certain core function of the Authority to third party contractors and the multiple reporting relationships and attendant red tape.

    “The business process re-engineering process is the next phase of the re-organisation and it will detail work procedures that will enable the Authority take full advantage of the technology that has already been deployed and terminate the low capacity utilization engendered by manual processes.

    “NPA is mindful of the welfare of its employees and has assures that no job will be affected by this process. Staff of departments that have been scrapped or merged will be deployed to newly created departments fitting their competences

    “The Authority assures that the ultimate goal of this initiative is to institute a transparent and efficient system which will deliver the best dividend to Nigeria and its citizens. We solicit the support of all Nigerians to the achievement of these goals” the statement said.

     

  • $20m ‘bribe’: EFCC commences probe of 20 ex-NPA officials

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced a probe of how $20 million was wired into the accounts of shell companies and some former directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    The cash, which is believed to be a bribe, is being traced by the EFCC.

    The anti-graft commission is also looking into the operation of a firm which had been indicted by Switzerland over the bribe.

    The affected company was fined 1 million Swiss Francs by a Switzerland court, which also ordered it to pay back 36 million Swiss Francs described as illegal profits.

    No fewer than 20 former NPA top shots may be interrogated over the deal.

    Besides, there is pressure on the government to suspend business or contractual obligation with the indicted firm for a hitch-free probe by the anti-graft agency.

    The scam predates the appointment of the incumbent Managing Director, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman.

    A source in the anti-graft agency confirmed the commencement of investigations into the bribery scandal.

    “So far, we are looking into the accounts of 10 suspects and about five firms which were implicated in the deal.

    “We have been able to discover that the indicted firm had been entrenched in the system in the last 10 to 12 years with some contract procedure waivers linked to it.

    “It is a big bribery scandal with international network. We will unravel all the perpetrators and beneficiaries,” the source said.

    The EFCC plans to collaborate with the Swiss authorities in getting to the root of “this huge bribery”. We are hopeful of retrieving all relevant documents.

    “The good thing is that the Swiss government has always shown understanding by cooperating with the Federal Government.” The Swiss government had returned more than $650million Abacha loot to the Federal Government.

    The source said the latest dimension on the scandal made it necessary for the EFCC to probe the implicated company.

    “With the leg work done by our team, the $20million was not consultancy fees as being claimed by some of the highly-placed Nigerians.

    Another source gave an insight into the role played by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in cooperating with the Swiss authorities.

    The source said: “The Swiss authorities, through the Office of The Attorney-General, Department of International Affairs, on May 2, 2012 implicated some Nigerians in the $20million scandal alongside a firm.

    “The EFCC was then asked to look at the issues involved and the outcome of the agency’s findings was sent to Felix Reinmann, the Swiss Federal Attorney.”

    The source said a letter by a former Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), revealed the steps taken by the Federal Government.

    The letter said: “I refer to your letter dated 2nd May 2012, wherein you forwarded a Mutual Legal Assistance request to Nigeria on the above subject matter. The request was brought pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the International Law Principle of Reciprocity.

    “The documents on further findings of the executing competent authority, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission revealed that the money was paid as consultancy fee to the various recipients.

    “The said documents are herein forwarded to you verbatim.

    “Accept please, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteemed regards.”

    A source in NPA said: “We have referred the case to our Legal Unit for advice on what to do on the firm and the indicted former staff of NPA.

    “We are being careful in seeking legal advice because the contract the company signed was through the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    “We need to look into all contractual documents to avoid running the country into another crisis. This advice will guide us in determining what to do with the company.

    “As for our former employees, I think about 20, we also need legal advice on whether or not within our own mandate we can take action.

    “So, we are trying to follow due process. This is without prejudice to the investigation by the appropriate regulatory authority.”

    There has been pressure on the government to stop any transaction or contractual obligation with the firm.

    A government source said: “The Presidency has been receiving representation on the need to suspend business or contractual obligation with the firm.

    “This is left to President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to determine.”

    The French company VINCI is one of its main shareholders.

    On June 14, the Managing Director of the agency, Hadiza Bala Usman, told PREMIUMTIMES that apart from being “deeply embarrassing” to the NPA, the indictment was particularly worrisome.

    She said: “It is a development we are deeply worried about because it relates to the integrity of our agency and process.

    “We are reviewing the indictment and we will call for a full-scale investigation as it relates to companies and individuals in Nigeria said to have been involved. “This corruption revelation is a helpful development.”

     

  • NPA to increase bilateral ties with foreign firms – MD

    NPA to increase bilateral ties with foreign firms – MD

    The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman, says the organisation will increase bilateral ties with foreign firms, to derive mutual benefits.

    Usman said this on Wednesday in a message to the 10th NIMPORT Annual Maritime Conference in Lagos.

    The managing director, who was represented by an Assistant General Manager, Commercials and Ports Promotion, Malam Abdulrahman Lamina, said that technology transfer and information sharing would assist in standardising products for international markets.

    Usman said that “government’s efforts in achieving Single Window Operations will enhance swift clearance of goods which will help to encourage the growth of businesses within the port industry’’.

    She said that enhanced security profile at the ports would attract sustained investments in the sector and put the country in line with the dictates of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations.

    The managing director said that the Federal Government was working toward the deployment of top grade technologies and automation such as the Command, Control and Communication and Intelligence Unit (CCCI) and the Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIM) series.

    Usman said they would ensure quick financial transactions and block revenue leakages at the ports.

    She also said the systems would assist to enact a greater enabling environment in attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

    Usman said that developing sustainable trade relations with other countries would create employment, build foreign exchange reserves and ultimately boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    In his contribution, the Representative of Green View Development Nigeria Ltd. (GDNL), Mr David Agunbiade, said it should be easy to create jobs in the Nigerian maritime industry.

    He spoke about the natural and human resource endowments and the conducive all-year round stable climate.

    The Director, Institute of Maritime Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Olusoji Ilori, said, “The Maritime Industry is key to the development of any economy.’’

    He urged the government to endeavour to plough back heavily into the industry, to boost the nation’s economy.

     

     

    NAN