NNPC to redeem N2.1bn NPA debt

Harboursandport.com: Lagos--- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is set to settle all debts owed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) amounting to about N2.1 billion for services rendered this week.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),

Hadiza Bala Usman (l) presenting a plaque to the Group

Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

(NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, when the former paid a courtesy

visit to the latter at the NNPC Headquarters in Abuja.

PHOTO BY NPA MEDIA

The NPA also assured that henceforth the NNPC would not be charged by the Authority for services not offered. The new measure is to foster better working relationship with the Corporation.

These are some of the outcome of a meeting between both government agencies when the NPA management team led by the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman visited her counterpart, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru.

While assuring that the NNPC would subsequently ensure steady and prompt payment for services rendered to it by the Authority, the Corporation said it may be constrained to approach the NPA Board for a soft landing on the payment of legacy debts the Corporation owes the NPA, some of which have been outstanding for more than 20 years.

A statement signed by Isah Suwaid, Assistant General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications, C&SC, noted that Usman said her visit to the Corporation was borne out of the desire to strengthen the synergy and collaboration between both Agencies.

According to her, with the planned dredging of the Escravos and Ejigbo area in Lagos, there was a need for the Corporation to bury its pipelines deeper to allow for effective dredging activities to enable deeper draft for bigger vessels to access Warri and Lagos in a bid to enhance the supply of petroleum products and other larger vessels coming into the country.

Engr. Baru commended the NPA for securing the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the dredging of the Escravos channel, stressing that the feat would go a long way in stimulating economic activities in the area.

While commending the NPA Management under Hadiza Bala Usman for ensuring speedy clearance of Petroleum laden vessels to berth, Engr. Baru described Hadiza’s style of Management as “Nationalistic”, saying that the NNPC would remain grateful to the NPA for the existing cordial relationship between them in the service of the nation.

The NPA Managing Director was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director, Finance & Admin., Mohammed Bello-Koko, that of Engineering & Technical Services, Prof. Idris Abubakar and the General Managers of Engineering and Abuja Liaison Office, Engr. Rufai Mohammed and Mr. Kabir Edward respectively.