Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas - Chief of Naval Staff PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (PMB) JULY 13 2015
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has called for the strict enforcement of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements at sea ports across the state to optimise operations and stimulate economic development.
Ibas made the call in Port Harcourt on Wednesday while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, led by its Chairman, Hon. Ademorin Kuye.
He noted that despite Rivers State’s strategic role in Nigeria’s maritime, oil and gas, and industrial sectors, growth has been stifled by weak regulatory structures, poor accountability, and clashing stakeholder interests.
Highlighting key assets operating under the PPP model—including the Onne Port Complex, oil and gas service zones, and certain facilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)—Ibas said while some partnerships have improved efficiency and revenue generation, others have underperformed due to inadequate oversight and enforcement.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive audit of these assets to assess their current state and inform policy decisions moving forward.
“The National Assembly has a crucial role to play in refining existing PPP frameworks to ensure transparency, contractual compliance, and improved monitoring,” Ibas said, adding that effective collaboration with federal institutions is key to achieving the administration’s goals for peace, progress, and prosperity in Rivers State.
Earlier, Hon. Kuye stated that the committee’s visit was part of its constitutional oversight function to evaluate the status, utilisation, and management of federal assets, particularly those operating under PPP arrangements at Port Harcourt, Ibeto, and Onne Ports.
He added that the committee is working closely with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure transparency and public accountability in the disposal and management of national assets.
