Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), speaking during the courtesy visit with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Asset.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has stressed the need for a strict implementation of existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreements at the various sea ports in the State to properly harness derivable benefits.
The Administrator said this when he received on a courtesy visit, members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, led by its Chairman, Rep. Ademorin Kuye in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said the State has been a critical hub for maritime, Oil and Gas operations, including other industrial activities.
According to him, weak regulatory framework, a lack of accountability and conflicting interest between stakeholders, have hampered business growth.
The Sole Administrator, urged the Committee to fine-tune such PPP agreements to ensure transparency and strict adherence to contractual obligations.
Ibas also said that in spite of the volume of such maritime activities going on, Rivers State had continued to grapple with numerous challenges in the infrastructure landscape due to years of neglect, vandalism and under-utilisation.
He said that such public assets in dire need of rehabilitation and strategic realignment, should be given the desired attention.
Ibas said: “Among the assets currently operating under Public, Private Partnership framework in the state are the Onne Port Complex, various oil and gas service zones and certain segments of the Nigerian Ports Authority facilities.
“While some of these partnerships have yielded appreciable results in enhancing operational capacities and boosting revenue, others remain underperforming due to weak regulatory frameworks, lack of accountability, and conflicting interest between stakeholders
“A comprehensive assessment of these assets is therefore essential to determine their current state and chart a clear path forward. I believe that the National Assembly, through this committee, is well positioned to help fine-tune existing Public, Private Partnership arrangements by ensuring greater transparency, adherence to contractual obligations, and improved monitoring mechanisms.”
He said that the committee’s visit provided an opportunity for them to carry out on-the- spot assessments of key federal assets, particularly those under Public-Private Partnership, Lease-holding and Concession Agreements.
A cross Section of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets.
The Administrator sued for greater collaboration in ensuring that those partnerships truly deliver value for money and serve the best interest of Rivers people.
“It is also important to emphasise the significance of this oversight visit in evaluating the state of critical infrastructure in our state.
“In the past few weeks, our administration has prioritised the stabilisation of the state’s security environment and the peaceful resolution of the political conflicts that had threatened to erode public trust and economic progress.
“Through consultations, peace- building engagements, and coordination with security agencies, we have taken deliberate steps to restore normalcy and strengthen the fabric of unity in Rivers State,” he said.
Ibas stressed that as his administration looked to the future, it would require sustained collaboration and the support of institutions like the National Assembly to achieve its mandate.
“We therefore call on the National Assembly to continue supporting us in our effort to reposition Rivers State on the path of peace, progress, and prosperity.
“We count on your expertise and your legislative support as we work to enhance the value of federal assets in the state, improve service delivery, and stimulate economic growth.”
According to Ibas, the visit of the lawmakers has rekindled hope that together, they can work to overcome the challenges and unlock the vast potentials of the State for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Similarly, Kuye said they were in the state to conduct an oversight on federal assets, specifically to determine their usage, status, and possible disposal of those assets within Nigeria and overseas.
He said that they were also mandated to look at seized assets, as proceeds of crime in particular, working with The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to ensure that Nigerians got the full benefits of the disposal of those assets.
Kuye stated that they were looking at the PPP arrangements by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that were still subsisting at Port Harcourt Ports, Ibeto Ports, and Onne Ports, to evaluate their findings and present a report to the House.
