Sturm in the ports: NPA rocked around $ 25 million, N160 million scandals

Sturm in the ports: NPA rocked around $ 25 million, N160 million scandals

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was intensively checked according to allegations in which a deeply rooted culture of corruption, operational inefficiency and political interference within the agency.

According to insider debris, which Economic Confidential received, high-ranking officials from the NPA allegedly benefit from a monthly “tribute system” of 160 million ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ monthly and form of monetized extortion, which includes inflated contracts and bribes, which were facilitated by the leading leadership of the top level. These practices, say sources, are anchored and routinely, were bleeding the agency and increasing the operating costs for stakeholders.

Economic confidential reports that the ports of Nigeria – at the same time a potential center of commercial efficiency – become a logistical nightmare. According to reports on the freight administrators for over 45 days, while the costs for the transport of containers from 250,000 to 900,000 ₦ in the amount of USD 250,000 have been reached. These developments have laid Nigerian ports the most expensive in the West African subregion, creating a competitive disadvantage and frustrating importers and exporters.

According to the sources, the agency is also involved in all manners of appointment and selection scandals. Important civil servants allegedly keep their positions without qualifications based on their connections to a minister and a top adjutant of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Sources, this has designed investigations and created a climate of impunity, whereby the supervisory ministries are transforming increasing concerns in the blind eye.

One of the sources that advocated anonymity also claimed a breakdown in internal government. The Executive Director of Finance is to act as a de -facto managing director and hold back over 1,000 official files. According to reports, this concentration of power has led to one-sided decisions and breakdown of checks and balances within the NPA hierarchy.

Another source claimed that an excavator contract of 25 million US dollars for Warri harbor without the constitutional approval of the Federal Service Council (FEC) was awarded, which seems to be brazenly against the Nigerian procurement laws.

The efforts of economically confidential to receive a reaction from NPAS spokesman Ikechukwu Onyemekara were unsuccessful. Although he made him aware of the specific allegations, he did not answer several inquiries about comments.