By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has launched a far-reaching probe into the operations of concessionaires managing Nigeria’s air and seaport terminals, intensifying calls for transparency, accountability, and value for money nearly two decades after the concession regime was introduced.
The investigation, spearheaded by an Ad-hoc Committee, seeks to scrutinize the performance of private operators and determine whether the policy has delivered on its core objectives of efficiency, infrastructure development, and economic returns to the Federal Government.
Nigeria has embarked on an ambitious port concession programme in 2006, transferring the management of key terminals to private operators in a bid to address chronic inefficiencies, reduce congestion, and attract much-needed investment into the maritime sector.
Prior to the reforms, Nigerian ports were plagued by long cargo dwell times, poor infrastructure, and bureaucratic bottlenecks that hampered trade and increased the cost of doing business.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, while speaking during an investigative hearing with key stakeholders at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, described the exercise as a decisive stage in the committee’s mandate.
According to him, the hearing provides an opportunity for direct engagement with terminal operators whose roles have been pivotal since the concessioning of ports in 2006.
“This session marks a critical phase in the Committee’s assignment. Today, we are engaging directly with terminal operators whose roles have been central to the concession regime introduced nearly two decades ago,” Akinlayo said.
He emphasized that the committee’s responsibility is to assess performance, identify gaps, and ensure that Nigerians have received commensurate value from the concessions.
“The mandate before us is clear: to evaluate performance, determine value for money, and ensure that the objectives of these concessions have been achieved in a transparent and accountable manner,” he added.
Akinlayo further urged concessionaires to present verifiable records of their operations, investments, and compliance with contractual agreements, stressing that the credibility of their submissions would shape the committee’s final report.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of Ports and Cargo Terminal at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Lukeman Olaruwanju, highlighted significant investments made by terminal operators over the years.
He disclosed that operators have not only met but in some cases exceeded their initial obligations. For instance, while concession agreements required just 20 operational trucks, current figures show that about 125 trucks are now deployed across terminals.
Olaruwanju also pointed to major investments in cargo-handling equipment, including reach stackers, forklifts, terminal tractors, and empty container handlers, with cumulative costs running into tens of millions of dollars.
Beyond equipment, he noted substantial improvements in infrastructure such as quay reinforcement and the renovation of maintenance facilities. He added that operators have also embraced modern technology, strengthened cybersecurity systems, and invested in workforce development to boost efficiency.
The committee is expected to continue its hearings with other stakeholders as it compiles a comprehensive report on the impact of port concessions on Nigeria’s economy.
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