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Ports Under the Microscope as Reps Launch Sweeping Probe into 20-Year Concession Deal
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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has opened a far-reaching investigation into the performance of concessionaires running the nation’s air and sea port terminals, raising pressing questions about transparency, accountability, and whether Nigerians have truly received value for money over the past two decades.
Leading the charge, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate and Appraise the Performance and Benefits Accrued to the Federal Government from Concessionaires Operating Air and Seaport Terminals and related Shipping activities from 2006-2026, Rep. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, described the inquiry as a decisive moment as lawmakers convened with key industry stakeholders on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He made it clear that the exercise goes beyond routine oversight, signalling a deeper scrutiny of the concession regime introduced in 2006 — a policy widely expected to transform efficiency, attract private investment, and modernise infrastructure across the aviation and maritime sectors.
“This session marks a critical phase in the Committee’s assignment. Today, we shall engage directly with terminal operators whose roles have been central to the concession regime introduced nearly two decades ago,” he said.
Rep. Akinlayo emphasised that the original policy was crafted to yield tangible economic gains for both the Federal Government and ordinary Nigerians, adding that the committee is determined to find out if those promises have been fulfilled.
“The Committee’s mandate is clear: to assess performance, determine value for money, identify gaps, and ensure that the intended objectives of these concessions have been met in a transparent and accountable manner,” he added.
The Chairman further urged concessionaires to come forward with accurate, verifiable details of their operations, including investments made and adherence to contractual obligations. According to him, the credibility of their submissions will play a pivotal role in shaping the committee’s final recommendations.
“We expect full cooperation, candour, and professionalism from all parties,” he said.
The Director Ports, Cargo and Terminals at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Olayiwola Olaruwanju, pointed to what he described as substantial investments by terminal operators in both equipment and infrastructure.
He indicated that several operators have gone beyond their original contractual obligations, particularly in the area of logistics support. For instance, where the initial requirement was the provision of just 20 trucks, operators are now said to be deploying roughly 125 trucks, alongside expanded fleets of other cargo-handling machinery.
Olaruwanju also outlined a range of high-value equipment acquisitions, including reach stackers, forklifts, terminal tractors and empty container handlers. According to him, these investments run into tens of millions of dollars, complemented by upgrades to port infrastructure such as reinforced quays and refurbished maintenance facilities.
Beyond physical assets, he highlighted progress in operational efficiency, noting the adoption of modern information technology systems, improved cybersecurity measures and increased focus on workforce development.
The committee is set to hear from additional stakeholders in the coming sessions as it compiles a detailed assessment of how port concession agreements have shaped Nigeria’s economic landscape.
The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, and other leaders of the NDC, on Monday, held a closed-door peace talks with aggrieved members of the party in Kano State.
Osa Director, the national spokesperson of the NDC, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Director explained that the closed-door peace talks were part of efforts to resolve the primary election-related crisis between Kwankwasiya Movement and other NDC members in the North-western state.
Kwankwasiya Movement is a political support group founded by the NDC vice-presidential candidate and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The national spokesperson said the meeting, which lasted for several hours, was “productive.”
Senator Dickson and the NDC leadership are mediating in the process in order to enhance inclusion and participation by every party member.
According to Oda Director the NDC leadership will not impose candidates in Kano State, and indeed across the nation as the party cherishes the virtues of internal democracy,” he said.
He stressed that the NDC has not released any official results of its 2027 primaries in any state.
He urged members to disregard any such list in circulation.
The cause of the crisis
It was gathered that some NDC members in North-west Nigeria recently alleged Mr Kwankwaso was plotting to facilitate the dominance of members of Kwankwasiya Movement in the region’s party structure while dropping other key party leaders.
The Vice-Chairman of the NDC in the North-west, Mohammed Serina, and the Chairman of the party in Kano State, Hussaini Mariga, made the allegations against Mr Kwankwaso in a petition recently submitted to the party’s national leadership.
The petition followed purported results of NDC’s primaries in North-west circulating on Facebook in which the majority of winners were linked to the Kwankwasiya Movement.
The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has removed the names of Ahmed Yayari and Daniel Woyengikuro from its portal as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Treasurer and National Financial Secretary, respectively.
According to a check by DAILY POST shows that both names have also been replaced with Odeyemi Mackson Oladiran and Eyim Donatus Henry as the new executives.
Yayari and Woyengikuro who are part of the Makinde-backed Turaki faction while Odeyemi and Eyim are members of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s faction, which is also the recognised faction of the PDP.
INEC had earlier recognised Wike’s faction by putting the names of Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary, but had left the names of Yayari and Woyengikuro as part of the executives.
With the recent update on its portal, all executives of the PDP on INEC’s portal are now aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, again arraigned a social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, also known as Blessing CEO, for an alleged N69.1 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N69,150,000.
At the commencement of the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, C. C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge.
However, the defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that service of the charge had only recently been effected.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law, hence the charges were subsequently read to the defendant.
It will be recalled that Blessing CEO had been arraigned by the EFCC on 15th May 2026 over an alleged N36 million fraud.
NDC leader, Dickson in closed door session peace talks to stop party crisis in Kano
PDP logjam: INEC updates portal, names new treasurer, financial secretary
Alleged N69.1m fraud: Another headache for Blessing CEO as EFCC files fresh charge
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