Matthew Otoijagha
All debts owed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2017 to date, amounting to about N2.1 billion for services rendered to the corporation are to be settled next week, according to a statement released by NPA.
This is coming just as the NPA has assured that henceforth the NNPC would not be charged for services not rendered. These were part of the outcome of discussions between the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman and the Group Managing Director NNPC, Engr. Dr. Maikanti Baru, when she paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
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.
Hadiza Bala 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.