FG to hand over KLT phase 2 to private investors as terminal is concessioned

Segun Oladipupo

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has concessioned Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) 2 to private investors as the process has been concluded.

The General Manager, Land and Asset Administration of the Authority, Yusuf Ahmed told members of the NPA during their visit to the port recently.

Though the names of the concessionaires were not mentioned, he maintained that the process of the concessioning has been concluded by the management of the agency.

The terminal is presently occupied by fishing trawlers.

He said, “Overtime, the federal government has decided to concession KLT Phase 1 and 2 but the process started with KLT Phase 2 and that has been done and the process has been concluded.

“The preferred bidders have been determined and the handing over will be done very soon.

“However phase one has not even started and it has not even been advertised”, he stated.

Ahmed told members of the board of NPA that though the channel to KLT is shallow but that the preferred bidders have been determined.

He said Phase 1 bidding process had not commenced but noted that occupation of the facility have been terminated for years.

The GM said occupants of the facilities at Phase 1 are there on temporary basis, pointing out that once the concession process begins in KLT Phase 1, there won’t be any form of difficulties for the bidding process.

He disclosed that there was also support from the World Bank , ICRC and Federal Ministry of Finance to undergo the concession processes because according to him, the federal government had opted for KLT Phase 1 to be designated solely as a fishing hub.

The GM noted that government had indicated interest for the facility in KLT Phase 1 as highly concentrated for fishing activities, noting that Phase 2 is designated for containers operations.

He however explained that trawler owners might be beneficiaries of the KLT Phase 1 concession due to the high concentration of fishing activities.