Following the condemnable burning of the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by hoodlums recently, industry stakeholders have called on the federal government to guide against excessive funding in the rehabilitation as the facility is insured against such damages.
This is coming as the foremost maritime expert and president of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero has disclosed that since the building was insured for fire and theft and NPA did not default in its premium payments, it is the responsibility of the insurer to rehabilitate the building and replace stolen items.
He said: “There are classes of insurance but if the losses suffered by the NPA in the incident were covered, then the insurer takes full responsibility for indemnifying the insured of the losses suffered. That is the essence of insurance. Going again to take money from government is double charge. I don’t want to call it fraud.
“Once the building is insured, the insurance company takes responsibility for everything; that is the truth,” Amiwero stressed.
Recall that when the lawmakers from the National Assembly visited the NPA headquarters recently to assess the level of damage and loss, they asked the Management of NPA to jack up its 2021 budget to cover for the rehabilitation and replacement of stolen equipment.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbour, Garba Datti Muhammad said that members both of the chambers of the National Assembly were in Lagos to assess the level damage done to the NPA building.
“We have gone round and seen the extent of the damage to the building and vehicles that were burnt in the fire incident. This will help the National Assembly to assist NPA in rebuilding the damage on the torched building. However, part of our discussion with them was for the NPA to bring its budget to the National Assembly because we advised them to adjust the budget to accommodate the rebuilding of the damages,” he explained.
General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communication of NPA, Engr. Adam Jato had told a daily newspaper recently that the facility is fully insured by a consortium of insurers.
It would be recalled that the NPA headquarters building located on Lagos Island, was among other public and private facilities destroyed by hoodlums who hijacked the ENDSARS Protest in Lagos last month.
