The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is facing opposition from maritime‑industry stakeholders over its reported plans to cancel Cargo Survey (CS) contracts awarded in 2019. Those contracts, legally granted for a ten‑year term, were set to expire in 2029 and the firms involved have not defaulted on any obligations. In a letter dated September 2025, NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho justified the cancellation on the grounds of “operational needs and efficiency.”
The Maritime Integrity Movement, a coalition of industry stakeholders, has sharply criticized the NPA’s action, noting that the authority neither consulted the affected organizations nor accused them of underperformance before moving to terminate the agreements. Lucky Abegunde, convener of the movement, pointed out that this is not the first attempt by the NPA to scrap the contracts. Previously, the authority sought a “No Objection” from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to re‑procure the services through selective tendering, a request that was rejected. The BPP warned that such restricted procurement could constitute abuse and directed the NPA to adopt open competitive bidding in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The Maritime Integrity Movement also alleges that the NPA has deliberately withheld invoices and created procurement uncertainties to weaken existing contracts. It warns that terminating the contracts midstream, without cause, could expose the federal government to litigation and higher costs. Consequently, the movement has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate what it describes as a “fraudulent attempt” to cancel and reallocate the cargo survey contracts.
These developments have significant implications for both the maritime industry and the federal government. The NPA’s actions risk undermining stakeholder confidence in the authority’s ability to manage contracts and regulate the sector. An investigation, as urged by the Maritime Integrity Movement, could shed light on the circumstances surrounding the attempted cancellation and reallocation. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the NPA will respond to stakeholder opposition and the call for a formal inquiry.
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