NSC Mulls Review of Concession Agreement with Inland Dry Ports Operators
BARR AKUTAH
*Gives Q1 date for Funtua dry port delivery
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that it plans a review of the concession agreement with operators of the Inland Dry Ports in the country.
This was as the Council disclosed that it has the mandate of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to ensure that the Funtua Dry Port is delivered by the first quarter of 2024.
Executive Secretary of the Council, Barr Pius Akutah explained that the review of the concession agreement was part of the efforts of the ports economic regulator to ensure that the delivery dates for projects being carried out by concessionaires become more effective.
Speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) during a courtesy visit, Akutah said one of the challenges the Council has been having is in getting the relevant partners involved in the dry ports projects work more effectively.
He expressed concerns that in some cases, the state governments delay in providing lands for the projects.
He also disclosed that in some places where lands have been awarded, necessary documentations were lacking, adding that all these issues delay the projects as the concessionaires cannot commence work
Akutah said that the Council has been working in addressing some of these concerns to ensure that dry ports projects which will bring shipping to the door steps of many Nigerians across the six geo-political zones of the country are effectively carried out in good time.
“In some cases, the state governments are not able to award lands whereas it is their responsibility to do that. In some places, lands have been awarded but necessary documentations have not be carried out. Under such situation, the concessionaires cannot commence work. We want to see what we can do about this issue”, he said.
The Executive Secretary also disclosed that the Council wants to ensure that those chosen as concessionaires have the necessary resources to be able to carry out the dry ports projects.
He pointed that there was the need to check if the concessionaires have the necessary funding before the rush in signing agreement with them to avoid the issue of taking off.
Akutah said one of the priority areas for the Council would to ensure that more dry ports come on board.
According to him, the Council has the mandate of the President to ensure that it delivers the Funtua Dry Port by the first quarter of 2024.
According to him, in all these, the target of the Council is to bring shipping nearer to the people as part of trade facilitation.
“It is to see how we can facilitate trade. We are taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA). You remember we were almost the last country to sign that. So, we need to encourage our people to let them know there are opportunities under that agreement in terms of trade facilitation”, he said.
He said the AfCTA has a lot of opportunities as far as trade facilitation is concerned, adding that it will guarantee high level of revenue.
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that it plans a review of the concession agreement with operators of the Inland Dry Ports in the country.
This was as the Council disclosed that it has the mandate of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to ensure that the Funtua Dry Port is delivered by the first quarter of 2024.
Executive Secretary of the Council, Barr Pius Akutah explained that the review of the concession agreement was part of the efforts of the ports economic regulator to ensure that the delivery dates for projects being carried out by concessionaires become more effective.
Speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) during a courtesy visit, Akutah said one of the challenges the Council has been having is in getting the relevant partners involved in the dry ports projects work more effectively.
He expressed concerns that in some cases, the state governments delay in providing lands for the projects.
He also disclosed that in some places where lands have been awarded, necessary documentations were lacking, adding that all these issues delay the projects as the concessionaires cannot commence work
Akutah said that the Council has been working in addressing some of these concerns to ensure that dry ports projects which will bring shipping to the door steps of many Nigerians across the six geo-political zones of the country are effectively carried out in good time.
“In some cases, the state governments are not able to award lands whereas it is their responsibility to do that. In some places, lands have been awarded but necessary documentations have not be carried out. Under such situation, the concessionaires cannot commence work. We want to see what we can do about this issue”, he said.
The Executive Secretary also disclosed that the Council wants to ensure that those chosen as concessionaires have the necessary resources to be able to carry out the dry ports projects.
He pointed that there was the need to check if the concessionaires have the necessary funding before the rush in signing agreement with them to avoid the issue of taking off.
Akutah said one of the priority areas for the Council would to ensure that more dry ports come on board.
According to him, the Council has the mandate of the President to ensure that it delivers the Funtua Dry Port by the first quarter of 2024.
According to him, in all these, the target of the Council is to bring shipping nearer to the people as part of trade facilitation.
“It is to see how we can facilitate trade. We are taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA). You remember we were almost the last country to sign that. So, we need to encourage our people to let them know there are opportunities under that agreement in terms of trade facilitation”, he said.
He said the AfCTA has a lot of opportunities as far as trade facilitation is concerned, adding that it will guarantee high level of revenue.
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