Ten days to the planned protest demanding for relocation of Floating Dockyard acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to the Niger Delta region from Lagos where is been rotten, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has issued a Certificate of Compliance for an outline Business Case (OBC) for operations of the Dockyard.
An advocacy group, Save Niger Delta Group (SNDG), had earlier revealed plans to stage a massive peaceful protest at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) head office in Lagos.
The protest is due to the Federal Government refusals to relocate the multi-million dollar floating dock to the Niger Delta region, the group said.
In a statement obtained by GbaramatuVoice signed by the group’s acting spokesman, James Ebimene tagged ‘Mother Of All Protests’ To Rock NIMASA Head Office Over FG’s refusal to relocate Floating Dockyard to Delta.’ Noting that the Modular Floating Dockyard proposed location is Okerenkoko in Delta State.
ALSO READ: Group plans massive protest in NIMASA headquarters over FG’s refusal to relocate floating dockyard to Niger Delta
In a statement released on Sunday, September 19, 2021 and signed by NIMASA Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edward noted that the Acting Director General of the commission, Mr. Michael Ohiani, led a team of ICRC officers to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos to present the certificate.
The Agency’s outline business case for the Modular Floating Dockyard’s management contract to be operated, maintained, and transferred under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement was in compliance with the ICRC Act 2005 and the National Policy on Public Private Partnership, Ohiani noted.
However, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, while receiving the Certificate of Compliance, said the Modular Floating Dockyard was a national asset.
“The Agency is committed to the careful deployment of the dry dock in line with relevant regulatory instruments to ensure wealth creation, job creation, and revenue generation for the Federal Government, he assured.
He Explained that the Issues, such as security, accessibility, and existing complimentary infrastructure on ground, were considered in the development of a business case for the dockyard, which will be managed on a PPP basis with NIMASA and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on the one hand, and a management company, on the other. ICRC would closely monitor the entire implementation process to ensure equity, fairness, and profitability for the Federal Government.
“It is one thing to have the Modular Dockyard, and another for it to enjoy patronage and be a profitable venture for government. So many funds have been invested in the project and it cannot serve just as a workshop for an institution of learning, as being inferred in some quarters.
“Detailed investigation has also confirmed that the dockyard cannot berth at an area earlier proposed for it. We got approval from our supervising ministry to deploy the asset on a PPP basis and we are working in conjunction with the Nigerian Ports Authority. Our arrangement to utilise facilities at the Continental Shipyard in Apapa is still very much on course,” he stated.
The Director General stated that the seeming delay in the deployment of the Floating Dockyard was due basically to the fact that attention was being paid to details to ensure due diligence, compliance with due process and the eventual durability of the project when it becomes operational.
“The floating dockyard is a national asset and we consulted the ICRC, which is the regulatory agency of government, to review the process of deployment to confirm that it is a worthwhile investment on a PPP arrangement, and today they have confirmed to us that we are on the right path,” Jamoh said.
Ohiani noted that only deployment based on due diligence and effective implementation of the approved business case would ensure the durability of the project. While he described the Floating Dockyard as a profitable investment by government.
“The project is bankable and sustainable. The Nigerian government will get value for money in the project. The next step is to get the best concessioner to provide the services and a full business case will be prepared and taken to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
“ICRC will continue to manage the process and we hope to conclude the entire process before the end of the year. We will also ensure that the concessioner does not charge arbitrary fees when it becomes operational. It is a total package we are delivering to Nigerians and we seek their understanding and patience,” he added.
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