LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The management and board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and others are to appear before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties over handling of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Concessions since 1999.
Also invited are the Chief Executive Officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN) Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), among others.
They are all to appear during the investigative hearing on PPPs and Concessions by the joint committee at the National Assembly Complex.
The lead chairman of the investigative hearing, Hon Ademorin Kuye, said the invitation became necessary in view of the need to meticulously evaluate the performance of PPP programmes and concession agreement.
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Kuye said PPP initiatives and concession agreements were envisioned as beacons of innovation and efficiency.
He said it was aimed at propelling Nigeria to new heights of development for global competitiveness.
According to him, they promised not just roads, bridges, buildings, power, transportation, aviation, resources and solid minerals, but education, energy, mineral framework for sustainable growth and public welfare.
”It is our responsibility and mandate, to ascertain the extent to which they have honored their promises, followed due process, laid down terms of operation and chart a course for their optimisation,” he said.
He restated the government’s commitment to ensure that public assets and public – private partnerships operate within the frameworks of integrity and deliver value to every Nigerian.
The investigation will cover the gamut of sectors impacted by these PPPs from the bustling transport hubs to the power plants, oil and gas, aviation and agriculture among others.
The House had mandated its Committees on Public Assets and Special Duties, to investigate and assess the performance of PPP initiatives and concession agreements in the country following a motion presented by Hon Saidu Abdullahi early last month.
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The House expressed concern over the dwindling revenues that should accrue to the Federation Account and highlighted the substantial deficit in infrastructure development.
It noted that the deficit has far-reaching consequences on the execution of the budget and the country’s overall economic stability due to its heavy reliance on oil revenue