Agbakoba tasks new NPA MD on review of concession agreement

Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has welcomed the appointment of Ms Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Agbakoba in a press statement extolled the DG and urged her to immediately review concession agreement in the country.

According to him, “The immediate tasks that should be addressed by the MD included the review of all concession contracts with a view to having them implemented by the Concessionaire.

Urgently push for the enactment of the Ports and Harbour Authorities Bill.

“Develop a National Port Development Strategy which will have a PPP sector engagement.”

Agbakoba further said the task can be easily achieved if relevant skills are brought to bear.

“All of these tasks are easily achievable provided that the relevant skill sets are brought to bear on the job.”

The legal luminary acknowledged challenges facing the Authority saying he has no doubt they can be surmounted by the boss.

“It is not in doubt that the challenges that plague the NPA are numerous, we are however hopeful, that given her brilliant credentials, she will deal with these challenges and turn around the NPA for good.

“Many technocrats have been appointed in the past to head the nation’s maritime agencies. A lot of them underperformed and were unable to deal with the many challenges in the sector and attain set goals.

“Though Ms. Bala-Usman does not have direct experience in the sector, her track record and brilliant credentials give an array of hope that she can deal with critical challenges confronting the NPA.”  Agbakoba concluded.