The House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has allayed the fears of port operators over the delay in renewal of port concession agreements, assuring them that it would collaborate with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to resolve the debacle.
This assurance was given during the committee’s oversight visit to the terminal of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
According to Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, the committee’s chairman, the House of Representatives has mandated the committee to ensure that all federal government-concessioned assets perform optimally. The committee works with various government agencies and ministries to ensure concessioned assets deliver premium returns to the government and investors.
On port concession renewal, Chidari noted that the committee would leverage its excellent working relationship with the Minister to resolve the contract renewal swiftly.
He assured stakeholders that the government would not allow the issue to linger, emphasising the current administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and grow the economy.
Earlier, John Jenkins, Managing Director of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the company’s contributions to the economy through excellent service, employment opportunities, and corporate social support projects.
He emphasised that renewing the terminal’s concession agreement would enable the company to implement its development plan, making the terminal one of the best globally.
The committee members were accompanied on the visit by officials from the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
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