NPA loses N1bn to #EndSARS protest

—- to rehabilitate burnt building with N807m—-Bala-Usman

Abiola Seun |.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, has said that the authority lost over N1billion to the destruction of its corporate headquarters by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest against police brutality in October.

Usman,who spoke during the 2021 budget defence session of her agency before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, explained that N807m had been earmarked for rehabilitation of the burnt portion of the agency’s building.

She said the burnt portion was different from the amount that would be spent to replace the 27 vehicles set ablaze by the vandals while three others were stolen.

“The operational vehicles needed to be replaced as soon as insurance companies come up with the aspect of losses to be shouldered.

“Apart from burnt building and vehicles, other working tools like 317 computers were looted as well as photocopiers.

“The cost of replacing all the burnt and vandalised items will be above a billion naira when added to the N807m already estimated for rehabilitation of the burnt section of the building.”

She, however, assured the committee that the agency, based on an ongoing arrangement with the Lagos State Government and the National Inland Waterways Authority would come up with a lasting solution to traffic gridlock on roads leading to the ports in Lagos.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, told the agency to scale up its projected revenue drive in 2021 for easy Implementation of the entire budget.

Goje said, “Be rest assured that this committee shall through its oversight functions, monitor your revenue drive in 2021 as well as remittance into the CRF.”