By Umar Muhammad Puma
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to suspend further awards of contracts to its technical partners contracted by the agency till the House concludes an investigation into all agreements entered into by the NPA in this regard.
The House in a motion under the matters of urgent national importance moved by Rep. Herman Hembe (PDP, Benue) on the need to investigate dredging arrangements entered into by the NPA and sub-contracting parties that carry out dredging operations in Nigerian waters.
Rep Hembe, expresses concerned on the capacity of technical partners contracted by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to undertake dredging and channel management projects across the country, adding that the NPA currently spends approximately $1 billion on channel management and capital dredging across the country.
He revealed that Nigeria had wasted over EURO 60 million (about N9.5 billion) in the failed Calabar Channel Capital dredging contract without achieving the desired result.
The House mandated its Committee on Marine Transport, to among other things, look into all monies disbursed in respect of channel management and capital dredging projects; check the quality of service being rendered by the contracting firms and finally, levels of implementation of existing contracts.
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