The Federal Ministry of Transportation has queried the management of LADOL Integrated Logistics FZE to explain how it came about a ‘purported’ gazette which enabled the company to receive ships carrying oil and gas related cargoes.

A source close to the ministry said on Sunday that this was contained in the correspondence between LADOL and the ministry.

In the correspondence, the ministry recalled that at a meeting between the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and maritime stakeholders in March, LADOL presented a gazette, which the ministry said its authenticity was in doubt.

The ministry demanded that LADOL should furnish it with more information on how it came about the purported gazette No 54 , Volume 95 of Lagos, 4th Sept, 2008, which allowed it to receive a maximum of two-ocean going ships per week.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at a meeting held in March by the minister and maritime stakeholders, the minister told terminal operators to submit documents to show that there were no terminals dedicated to handle oil and gas cargoes.

The minister explained that one of the far-reaching decisions reached was that the most recent Presidential approval of April 20, 2015, be strictly complied with by all relevant maritime stakeholders.

According to the ministry, the presidential approval states that “the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) project can be located at Agge, Bayelsa State, when the facilities to handle such operations are developed.

“In addition, the FPSO can be conveniently located at any designated oil and gas terminal.

“All oil and gas related cargoes must be handled only at the designated terminals as in the letter from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

“Operators are, however, free to choose port of discharge of their cargoes within the designated terminals at Onne, Warri and Calabar.”

It added that vessels coming to Nigeria, particularly oil and gas related cargoes, except petroleum products must first go to the appropriate NPA concessioned terminal operators and shipping lines.

The ministry said that the owners of the vessels must pay the necessary dues/charges and obtain releases before proceeding to locations for final discharge including those meant for LADOL.

It said that this was in order to maintain transparency and promote healthy competition in the sector.

The ministry added that all port development facilities associated with the development of any port facility including FPSO should be carried out in accordance with extant public procurement and infrastructure development laws and policies.

It warned that all maritime stakeholders should ensure strict compliance with the presidential approval. (NAN)

•Photo shows Amaechi.

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