Cargo Surveyors Express Confidence In NPA’s Cargo Surveying Process
Cargo surveyors have expressed confidence that the cargo surveying and cargo survey bidding process at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) comply with the international best practices and Nigerian extant laws aimed at ensuring transparency and competence.
A leading professional surveyor at the Lagos Premier Port and chairman of Seabed International Limited, Sheikh Yakubu Abdallah said the NPA Cargo Surveyors Association has full confidence in the current management of NPA led by Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman and the ongoing cargo survey contract bidding process. He was reacting to allegations of bias levelled by some unnamed persons in a newspaper publication.
Abdallah said the allegations of bias were being made by aggrieved parties who bided for cargo survey contract at the NPA but were jittery that they may not meet the competitiveness and requirements for such duty.
According to him, the allegations were baseless false alarms and were borne out of fears of losing out by those without the facilities and acumen to meet the requirements of cargo surveying.
“There is no basis for the accusations as there is no evidence to prove that the process, which just began, was being manipulated to favour some interests against others. The process is transparent and it is yet to reach conclusion. Therefore, there is no basis for the allegations,” Abdallah said.
He urged the public to ignore the antics of those who will always hide behind unnamed persons and anonymity to mislead the public on government policies, adding that cargo surveyors are fully in support of the reforms at the NPA.
“This is propaganda by those who do not meet the minimum requirements mentioned in the advertisements of the contract. The requirements were very clear and NPA warned anyone who fails to meet requirements not to apply because they shall be disqualified. The people behind these allegations are not representing our interests or the interest of any cargo surveyor in the business,” Abdallah said.
Earlier, the general manager, Procurement, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dandare Ahmed, had refuted the allegations, insisting that NPA is committed to transparency in all its dealings.
He explained that the process of evaluating the bidders and selecting successful ones is still in progress and it will be preposterous for anyone to be jumping to conclusion.
The NPA had in November 2016 announced the bidding for “competent and reputable” cargo surveying companies to express interest in cargo surveying contracts at the Delta, Calabar, Onne, Rivers, Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports.
