The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to investigate and appraise the performance and benefits accrued to the Federal Government from concessionaries operating air and sea port terminals, Tuesday commenced a comprehensive probe of the ports.

At the commencement of the investigation, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo, said the probe would assess the effectiveness of the port concession regime introduced in 2006, which was aimed at improving efficiency, attracting private investment, and boosting infrastructure development in the aviation and maritime sectors. He said: “This session marks a critical phase in the Committee’s assignment.

“Today, we shall engage directly with terminal operators whose roles have been central to the concession regime introduced nearly two decades ago.” He noted that the policy was designed to deliver measurable economic benefits to the Federal Government and Nigerians, stressing that the committee would determine whether those objectives had been achieved.

“The Committee’s mandate is clear: to assess performance, determine value for money, identify gaps, and ensure that the intended objectives of these concessions have been met in a transparent and accountable manner,” Akinlayo added. He urged concessionaires to provide factual and verifiable accounts of their operations, investments, and compliance with concession agreements, emphasizing that the integrity of submissions would guide the committee’s final recommendations.

“We expect full cooperation, candour, and professionalism from all parties,” he said. Speaking at the hearing, the Executive Director, Ports and Cargo Terminal at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Lukeman Olanrewaju highlighted significant investments made by terminal operators in equipment and infrastructure