BPE, NPA Concession Terminal B of Warri Port

BY ONYEKA AJUMOBI ONOCHIE

Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex A. Okoh, has tasked Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited – the concessionaire of Terminal ‘B’ of the Warri Old Port, to focus on increased efficiency, improved service delivery, modernized port development as well as  reduction in the cost of shipping and clearing of goods in line with the Federal Government’s objective in port concession.

At the signing ceremony for the concession of the port between the concessionaire and the Bureau, witnessed by critical stakeholders, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in Abuja on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, Okoh said, “Government expects nothing less than strict adherence to the terms of the Concession Agreement from the concessionaire,” reminding the Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited that the pursuit of its business objectives must be tailored in a way that would assist in the realisation of objectives of the Port Concession programme of the Federal Government.

According to the Director General, the Federal Government’s Ports Concession Programme under the management of the BPE commenced in 2005 and culminated in the concession of over 23 terminals to private operators. He noted that it represents one of the success stories of the privatisation and commercialisation programme in Nigeria and a credible testimony of the viability of the Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) model in the development and delivery of critical public infrastructure in Nigeria.

He recalled that the Federal Government upgraded the facilities at Terminal B Warri Old Port, which included the construction of a new quay wall and apron equipped with requisite facilities for berthing vessels, making it one of the most modern port terminals in the country at the time.

“Upon completion of the rehabilitation and reconstruction works, there was a need to concession the Terminal to a private operator who would be responsible for the operation of the terminal and carrying out further development of its facilities in line with the Ports Concession Programme”, he stated, adding that  following the approval by the NCP, advertisements inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective concessionaires for the concession of the terminal were  carried out  by the Bureau.

“At the closing date for submission, 13 EOIs were received and subsequently evaluated. After the evaluation, seven firms achieved the minimum qualification mark and were prequalified for issuance of Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Information Memorandum. Unfortunately, due to certain challenges, the issuance of the RFPs was delayed for about two years. At the coming of the current government, the NCP, at its meeting held on the 22nd and 23rd August, 2017, approved the continuation of the bidding process which included issuance of RFPs and Information Memorandum to the subsisting seven pre-qualified firms, physical due diligence and data room exercise, evaluation of the technical proposals and finally the financial bid opening”, he added.

Okoh revealed that the NCP, again, at its meeting on June 12, 2018, approved the Technical bid and the Financial bid of US$100,782,147.53 (One Hundred Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-Seven US Dollars and fifty-three cents) submitted by Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited which emerged as the preferred bidder for Terminal B Warri, Old Port.

He thanked the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, for her cooperation throughout the process of the transaction without which it  would not have been possible. “The synergy which was displayed throughout this process is worthy of commendation and we look forward to working with the NPA in future endeavors”, he stated.

In her remarks, the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman expressed  delight at the conclusion of the concession of the terminal  and noted that the concession of the Port is an important milestone in the economic development of the country.

While pledging support to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services limited, she commended the teams from BPE and NPA for working assiduously for the completion of the project.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services, Mr. Adekunle-Abdulrasak  Oyinloye thanked staff of BPE and NPA for their transparency and diligence  in executing  the project and promised to work for the success of the port.

*Photo: Mr Okoh