The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has firmly denied recent online reports alleging multi-billion-naira corruption within the organization.
In a statement issued by its General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Sir Ikechukwu Onyemekara, the authority described the claims as false, lacking credibility, and designed to mislead the public.
Reiterating its commitment to probity and accountability, NPA emphasized that its budget and expenditure processes are subject to strict oversight by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the National Assembly.
According to Onyemekara, these multiple layers of supervision make any misapplication of funds structurally impossible.
The NPA addressed specific concerns raised in the reports, including the contract for dredging operations at the Warri-Escravos Channel. It stated that this contract was executed in full compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act of 2007, under emergency procurement procedures. It said the dredging was necessary due to rising siltation in the channel, which posed a significant threat to shipping operations and Nigeria’s oil and gas activities.
Similarly, the procurement of marine crafts such as tugboats and pilot cutters was carried out transparently, following all legal requirements. The authority noted that this was in response to urgent operational demands linked to the implementation of crude oil sales in naira to local refiners, which involved extensive offshore activity
“The allegation of documents being withheld for over a year is untenable, as the extant civil service guidelines governing the timeline for processing of official documents makes it impossible. Allegations made in connection with expenditures at the authority’s London office are outrightly false as dealings or transactions speculated in the report never took place.
“The marked increase in revenue figures for 2024 were due to exchange rate gains, since the authority’s revenue are denominated in forex in line with global maritime best practice.
“The promotion of employees, as well as the appointment of Assistant General Managers and General Managers were undertaken to address the stagnation of personnel in the authority. Management however followed due process as prescribed in the authority’s duly approved conditions of service,” Onyemekara stated.
The NPA also explained that any revocation or review of third-party contractual agreements has been done in accordance with applicable laws and contractual obligations.
It further highlighted the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of its port modernization programme, which is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian ports through infrastructure upgrades and digital transformation.
“The allegation of staff morale being at rock bottom falls flat in the face of reality. The current Management has to its credit, the clearing of all outstanding issues of employee stagnation and the conduct of promotion examinations in 2024. The management has received commendation from the two in-house labour unions for these reasons So, staff morale is at its peak currently,” the statement added.
The authority urged media organizations to seek clarification from its offices before publishing reports, reiterating that it remains open to constructive engagement and committed to providing accurate information.
NPA also called on stakeholders and the Nigerian public to support its transformation efforts, particularly as it prepares to fully implement the Port Community System and contribute to the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative. These reforms, it stated, are essential to positioning Nigeria’s ports as globally competitive gateways aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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