An official visit paid by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman on Tuesday to the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru in Abuja, has resulted in the pledge by Baru, to effect the payment of all debts owed the NPA for services the Authority rendered to the NNPC between 2017 till date.
The NPA Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Isah Suwaid confirmed the amount to be a whoopingN2.1 billion, saying the whole debt would be settled, this week.
The new measure which is to foster better working relationship with the Corporation, it was further learnt, also necessitated a pledge by the NPA not to bill the NNPC henceforth, for services not truly offered to the Corporation, even as the NNPC subsequently assured of steady and prompt payments for services rendered.
However, the Corporation may be constrained to approach the NPA Board for a soft landing, in respect of the payment of ‘legacy debts’ the Corporation still owes the NPA, some of which had been outstanding for more than 20 years.
While emphasizing the need for the debt repayment, Hadiza said her visit to the NNPA was borne out of the desire to strengthen the synergy and collaboration between both Agencies, noting that with the planned dredging of the Escravos and Ejigbo area in Lagos, there was a need for the Corporation to bury its pipelines deeper to allow for effective dredging activities to enable deeper draft for bigger vessels to access Warri and Lagos in a bid to enhance the supply of petroleum products and other larger vessels coming into the country.
Engr. Baru commended the NPA Boss for securing the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the dredging of the Escravos channel, stressing that the feat would go a long way in stimulating economic activities in the area.
While commending the NPA Management under Hadiza for ensuring speedy clearance of Petroleum laden vessels to berth, Engr. Baru described Hadiza’s style of management as “Nationalistic”, stressing that the NNPC would remain grateful to the Authority for the existing cordial relationship between them in the service of the nation.
Hadiza was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director, Finance & Admin., Mohammed Bello-Koko, that of Engineering & Technical Services, Prof. Idris Abubakar and the General Managers of Engineering and Abuja Liaison Office, Engr. Rufai Mohammed and Mr. Kabir Edward respectively.
