18 terminal operators owe FG N490bn, says NPA

Eighteen terminal operators at various ports in the country are indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of $753 million and N1.61 billion (N490 billion), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said.

This was down from the $852.094 million and N1.878 billion presented in an audit query presented to the National House of Representatives by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

The query showed the debts by the terminal operators were as of December 31, 2019.

The report of the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation was based on alleged non-compliance, internal control weaknesses issues in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government of Nigeria for the year ended 31st December, 2019.

The 18 terminal operators are operating at the Lagos port complex, Tin Can Island port, Delta port, Rivers port Complex, Onne Port Complex and Calabar Port Complex.

The query identified the Terminal Operators owing the said funds as APM Terminal, Apapa owing $562 million, Apapa Bulk Terminal $4,621.20, ENL Consortium $957,020.77, Greenview Development, $20.8m  and Standard Flour Mills $893.77.

Others are Intels Nigeria Limited, operators of Terminal A at the Delta Ports Complex owing $2,429,382.80, Intels Nigeria Limited, operators of Terminal B of the Delta Ports Complex $4,589,576.75, and Associated Maritime Services $328,027.64, and Greenleigh Ports Nigeria Limited which is owing $1.7m

The rest are BUA Ports and Terminal Limited owing $12,254,424.55, Port and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited, $107m, Brawal Shipping Nigeria Limited, $226,541.72, Intels Nigeria Limited operating at Onne Port Complex owes $430,404.81, Intels Nigeria Limited also at Onne Port is owing another $670,954.72, the same Intels Nigeria Limited owes another $1.9m also at Onne Port while Shoreline Logistics owed $1.2m.

In the documents submitted to the House Public Accounts Committee as part of its response to the investigation, the NPA management confirmed that the original debt owed the FG by the port operators stood at $852,093,730.77 and N1.9m.

It however disclosed that out of the initial amount owed by the operators, $753 million and N1.6 billion had not been paid.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello-Koko, had during his appearance before the Committee lamented the billions being owed to the FG by the operators and other industry players in the maritime sector.

He said despite its efforts, the NPA was unable to recover the debts and therefore sought the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Chairman of the Committee, Wole Oke (PDP Osun), promised that the National Assembly would ensure the recovery of the funds.