Feelers from the Senate Committee on Marine transport indicates that there are plans to revoke the N5.1bn rehabilitation and expansion contract for of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters building in Marina, Lagos
The Senate Committee on Marine transport headed by Hajia Zaynab Kure said that the ongoing construction of the agency is not only displeasing but an eyesore which should be properly addressed.
Chairman of the committee, Hajia Zaynab Kure who disclosed this during a recent oversight visit to the agency lamented the improper state of the NPA headquarters.
According to her, “talking about performance of ongoing projects of the NPA, the headquarters of the agency has not performed according to expectations at all. If I have my way, I will revoke this contract.”
Still speaking, “we expected to be seeing a brand new NPA headquarters. Not to have come to see scaffolds here and there, covering almost all the building. That was why we refused to wear the helmets when we arrived because from what we have seen, there is absolutely nothing to inspect at the headquarters”.
“We are totally disappointed with the progress of the work at the NPA headquarters. This is the flagship of the NPA. This is where everybody will refer to as the NPA house, yet the project has been lingering for how many years.
“If I have the right, I will revoke this contract and let it be re-awarded to a contractor that will build it in good time for everybody, not only Nigerians. So that people coming from outside will come and see a befitting headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority”
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“We expected the headquarters to have been commissioned before our coming; but what we are seeing is displeasing. It’s an eyesore.”
Corroborating her, Senator Ben Ayade noted that, “It is a pity all the contracts of the NPA are awarded to foreigners. Yet most of them are dragging. Just look at the agency’s headquarters, It such a pity,”He said.
He added that the agency has employed the services of foreigners in their projects while local content is relegated.
“Most of these contracts are being done by foreign contractors. Where is the local content drive? It’s not there. If they think we cannot revoke this contract, let them dare us,”He said.
It would be recalled that the N5,001,785,839.05 complete rehabilitation and expansion contract of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters building in Marina, Lagos was awarded to Messrs. Sageto Nigeria Limited on December 22, 2010 with an 18-month completion mandate, while Messrs. AIMS Consultant Ltd bagged the consultancy job for the project.
The contract was awarded during the administration of the former Managing Director, Engr. Omar Suleiman came into office. But three years after the contract was awarded to both firms, the project is barely 50 per cent completed.
Meanwhile efforts to reach the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA)General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Iliya Musa proved abortive has his phone was not reachable but in his earlier comment, he promised to speak with the contractors.
By Alli Folashade Temitope