Reps Launch Probe Into Ports, Airports Concessions Agreements, Inaugurate Ad-hoc Committee

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Concession of the Nation’s Ports and Airports from 2006 to 2025.

The Committee was inaugurated on Tuesday by the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajuddeen.

In his opening remarks, the Speaker who was represented by Hon. Kwamiti Laori Bitrus, stated that, the investigation is not an attempt to undermine legitimate private sector participation.

He said, “it is rather an expression of the House’s constitutional mandate to conduct oversight, ensure accountability, and safeguard national interest. Nigerians deserve to know whether these concessions have delivered value for money, complied with contractual obligations, enhanced national competitiveness, protected public assets, and contributed meaningfully to economic growth, employment, and revenue generation”.

According to him, the Committee was mandated to among other things ‘investigate, examine, and appraise the performance of concessionaires operating federal air and sea port terminals, as well as related shipping activities, from 2006 to 2025, and to determine the actual benefits accrued to the Federal Government of Nigeria over the period’.

He further informed that, the scope of the Committee’s assignment is broad and critical which includes, but is not limited to; examine the terms and conditions of concession agreements entered into within the period; assess revenue flows, remittances, and other financial benefits accruing to the Federal Government and its agencies and review of compliance with contractual, regulatory, and safety obligations by concessionaires.

Speaker Abbas added that, other mandates include; an appraisal of infrastructure development, operational efficiency, service quality, and labour issues; identification of challenges, gaps, and systemic weaknesses within the concession framework; and formulation of clear, practicable recommendations to improve policy, legislation, and future concession arrangements.

He stressed, “The decision of the Federal Government to concession key national assets, particularly our seaports and airports, was driven by government’s desire to enhance efficiency, attract private sector investment, modernize infrastructure, improve service delivery, and ultimately increase government revenue while reducing operational burdens on the state. Nearly two decades after the commencement of these concession arrangements, it is both timely and imperative for the Legislature, as representatives of the Nigerian people, to undertake a comprehensive review of their outcomes.

“The outcome of this investigation will not only shape public confidence in concessioning as a policy tool but will also inform future reforms in public-private partnerships across critical sectors of our economy. History will judge us by how faithfully we discharge this responsibility to the Nigerian people”.

In his address, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kolawole Davidson stated that, the Committee was constituted in response to growing national concern over the management, performance, transparency, and value outcomes of concession arrangements governing some of Nigeria’s most strategic public assets.

He said, “These assets—our seaports, airports, terminals, and jetties—are not ordinary commercial facilities. They are sovereign economic gateways, national security infrastructure, and critical enablers of trade, mobility, and development.

“The House of Representatives, recognizing the critical importance of our nation’s maritime and port infrastructure to economic growth, trade facilitation, and national revenue generation, resolved to establish this Committee to ensure a thorough and evidence-based review of the benefits accruing to the Federal Government from these operations”.

“The Committee will engage relevant government agencies, regulatory bodies, and private sector stakeholders.

“These include the Nigerian Ports Authority, concessionaires, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Shippers’ Council, operators of crude oil and gas terminals, domestic vessel owners and charterers, importers, shipping companies and Banks”.