By: Ade Phillips
The House of Representatives has dismissed a petition lodged against Bello Koko, the managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), regarding a reported bad debt of N178 billion in the authority’s 2019 audited financial statement.
The petition was submitted by the Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria to the House Committee on Public Petitions.
However, during the committee’s public hearing on Wednesday, the group did not appear to substantiate the claims. Consequently, Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Etaba (APC – Cross River) dismissed the petition, citing a lack of merit.
“This is the sixth time and the petitioner has not been in this place. The case is hereby dismissed,” Mr Etaba said.
The petitioner had requested the management of NPA to be invited to address the growth of the alleged debt from N135 billion in 2018 to N173 billion in 2024.
The petition in part reads, “Our attention has been brought to the 2019 audited financial statement of Nigeria Port Authority ( NPA) with special reference to Trade Accounts Receivable and the huge provision made for bad and doubt debts.
“Whilst we note that the position in 2019 would significantly changed by now, the poor quality of NPA’s trade receivable account is alarming and requires urgent attention.”
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