TheCable

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it did not flout any court order through decommissioning of Rivers port terminal B operated by BUA Ports and Terminal Limited.

BUA had accused NPA of failing to adhere to its responsibilities under the lease agreement signed between both parties.

The company made the accusation after the NPA decommissioned the terminal.

But in a statement on Friday, Jatto Adams, general manager, corporate and strategic communications of NPA, said the decommissioning of the terminal was as a result of a letter written by BUA, highlighting safety concerns

Adams said the NPA would be irresponsible if it ignored the concerns raised by BUA in the letter.

The general manager also said there would have not been a record of vandalism as reported by the company if it had reconstructed the terminal 90 days after it was concessioned.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the decision to decommission Rivers Ports Terminal was out of safety concerns,” he said.

“The NPA would be an irresponsible organisation to look the other way and endanger the lives of Nigerians when a company painted this frightening situation in a letter sent to the Authority.

“The Authority is, of course, prepared to diligently pursue the arbitration process, which it initiated despite the delay by BUA.

“It is curious that BUA has continued to insist that the NPA has ran afoul of the injunction granted by the Federal High Court, Lagos, because there is no truth in this,” he said.

“Within the 18-month period between January 2018 when the injunction was secured and June 2019 when the Authority decommissioned Terminal B for safety concerns, BUA enjoyed peaceful occupation of the premises and berthed 117 VESSELS made up of liquid and dry bulk cargos!

“This puts a lie to every attempt to suggest that the NPA has flouted the orders of a court of law.”