Terminal operators jittery as Reps probe NPA over multi dollars debt

There is palpable fears and panic in the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) presently as feeling of uncertainty envelops terminal operators following the commencement of investigation of NPA management by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts.

The investigation is targeted at recovering multi-million dollars debt owed the federal government by terminal operators and the failure by the Nigeria Port Authority to account for billions of naira accruing to the national treasury.

The Committee, led by Hon Wole Oke is asking the NPA Management to explain why such a huge amount of money owed to the Federal government by terminal operators has not been recovered and paid into the federal treasury.

The investigation is the sequel to 12 audit queries from the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the financial statement of the NPA for the 2019 financial year.

However, the NPA Management had only responded to one of the 12 queries from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation on the indebtedness of terminal operators to the government to the tune of 852.094 million dollars and N1.897 billion.

 NPA said the sum of N269.410 million of the N1.8 billion has been recovered while the balance of N1.6 billion “invoices processed on the encumbered areas remain unpaid.”

According to the NPA, “the sum of $504,663,452.37 is volume change on fix lease fee payment by APMT arising from clauses in the concession agreement between NPA and APMT out of the total sum of $852,093,730.77.

“Bills raised on encumbered areas which remained unpaid is $19,169,459.00. The following has been paid-GMT-$54,707,700.08, unpaid penalties- $11,922,642.68 and unpaid VAT-$28,693,707.07.”

It said further that “$92,533,518.72 has been recovered leaving unpaid lease and Throughout fee in the sum of $139,970,637.71 (made up of $113,982,486.82 and $5,988,150.89) respectively.

However, not satisfied with the explanation on the issue, the Committee directed the NPA Management to come forward and reconcile their position with that of that Auditor-General for the Federation and provide evidence of remitting the recovered N269.51 million and $92.534 million to the treasury.

The NPA is also to furnish the House with a contract agreement/Service Level Agreement, the list of all terminal operators as well as a comprehensive schedule of lease fees, Thoroughout fees and GMT that make up the total amount being owed to the government by the operators.

The Committee is to invite the defaulting terminal operators to come and justify their reason for not paying the fixed lease fee, Throughout fee and GMT, while the NPA is also to provide details of community-related issues that hindered concessionaires from accessing the encumbered areas.

One of the terminal operators, APMT said to be owning the government a whopping $504663 million dollars is also to appear before the committee, while the NPA is to disclose efforts being made to recover the money and list of consultants engaged to assist in the debt recovery.

On the outstanding estate rent, shipping due and service boat of N32,266,183,590.8 billion and $67,425,429.88, they asked the NPA to provide comprehensive lists/details/schedules of debtors who are owing legacy debts to the tune of 7,293,403,552.55, stating the outstanding debt against each of the defaulters.

The committee also directed the NPA “to avail us a comprehensive lists /details/schedule of debtors who are owing 17,687,440,469.16 being shipping and service boat due. The Recovered amount and the outstanding debt must be stated against the name of each debtor.

The committee is also demanding that “NPA to avail us a comprehensive lists /details/schedule of debtors who are owing $27,977,479.97 being shipping and service boat due. The recovered amount and outstanding debt must be stated against the name of each debtor.

“NPA to avail evidence of remittance of the recovered amount totalling $6,647,297.72 to government coffers. NPA to provide a schedule of debts with 0-3 years’ age and a list of in-house committees responsible for the recovery.

The committee is also demanding the current status of the underlisted legacy debts. Evidence of remittances of part of the debts to government coffer if any is required.