Assures Collaboration with minister to resolve Port Concession Renewal
ZAINAB JUNAID
The House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has paid an oversight visit to Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited Terminal, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
Led by its Chairman, Engineer Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, the committee assured Port stakeholders of it’s readiness to collaborate with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Gboyega Oyetola, to resolve port concession renewal.
In a statement made available by Muyiwa Akande, Head Corporate Communications , SIFAX Group, on Tuesday, Chidari disclosed that the House of representatives has given the committee a mandate to ensure all federal government’s concessioned assets function at optimal level, stressing that the oversight visit is a key part of their statutory responsibility.
To him, “We work with diverse government agencies and ministries to ensure all Federal Government’s concessioned assets are performing optimally and delivering premium returns to both the government and the investors. Our job also involves working to remove any obstacle that might be impeding the smooth running of the private investors in these assets.”
On Port Concession Renewal, Chidari emphasized that the committee would leverage its excellent working relationship with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, to resolve the contract renewal in the shortest possible time.
“We understand what this contract renewal means to your business and I assure you that the government will not delay this for too long. This current administration is desirous of providing the needed enabling environment for businesses to thrive to grow the country’s economy.
“We will work with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to address any issue on the concession renewal,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Managing Director, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, John Jenkins, welcomed the delegation to the terminal and appreciated them for the oversight visit.
He stressed how the terminal operator and its parent company, SIFAX Group, have over the years contributed substantially to the growth of the economy by ensuring excellent service delivery at the terminal and other allied businesses; giving employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians as well as countless corporate social support projects that have touched the lives of thousands of less privileged Nigerians across the country.
He said the renewal of the terminal’s concession agreement would allow the company to implement its development plan that would make the terminal one of the best port terminals globally.
“The committee members were accompanied on the visit by officials of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE),” the statement revealed.
