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Operators Kick As NPA Move To Cancel Transparent Dredging Bid
Fred Omotara, Lagos
Some operators have raised the alarm that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has initiated move to cancel a dredging contract bid which held in 2020 and was adjudged to have met international standard.
Speaking with selected newsmen on Monday, officials of some of the firms involved in the bidding process who wouldn’t want their names in print explained that three companies Jan Di Nul, China Harbour/Redstar Construction and Belsea Ltd/Old Ham Marine Ltd won the bids under a transparent bidding process held at the NPA headquarters.
According to officials of the aggrieved firms, “Sometimes in 2020, there was an international bidding Public Notice with Number 4136 which was expression of interest for the engagement of dredging companies as technical partners for the channel management of pilotage districts for three Lots which are: Lagos pilotage, Bonny/Port Harcourt pilotage and Warri/Escravos pilotage.
“The expression of interest forms were submitted on Thursday 29th October 2020, and the companies that pre-qualify where invited by NPA on the 26th of April 2021 at conference room, 3rd floor of the NPA headquarters annex building in Marina.
“All government agencies were present at the opening which three companies emerged as winners. The companies that won the bids were (1) Jan Di Nul for Lagos pilotage, (2) China Harbour/Redstar Construction for Warri/Escravos pilotage and (3) Belsea Ltd/Old Ham Marine Ltd for Bonny pilotage.
“The winners were publicly announced and their remarks too was published by the then Procurement Manager.
“However, after a year of announcing the winners of this contract, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko sent a letter to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) seeking approval to cancel this bid process inorder for him to select new companies that will do the contract.
“NPA wants to cancel the bid which is against public procurement act. They want to bring in ‘some other’ companies to participate in the selective tendering which does not show transparency.