Coys to sue NPA over planned award of pilotages to INTELS

The four companies shortlisted by the federal government to maintain boat operations in its four pilotages said they have taken legal action against the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) for breach of Public Procurement Act.

This followed an investigation by Daily Trust that NPA is set to award the contracts to INTELS which was disqualified from the bidding process.

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The four companies shortlisted for the contract are; Pacific Silverline Ltd, Isasha Investment Ltd,  ICA Logistics Ltd and Nexttee Oil & Gas Trading Co. Nig. Ltd.

In a pre-action notice addressed to the Managing Director of NPA, sighted by Daily Trust, the solicitor of the four companies, Titilola Akinlawon, said the action was taken after they learnt that the agency would give the contract to another entity that did not participate in the bidding process.

He stated that NPA’s decision did not conform to the Public Notice No. 4115 Lot 3 that led to the selection of the four companies to be agents after a rigorous exercise of bidding and tendering in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, Cap P.44.

The counsel stated that the notice was to answer whether NPA could award any contract for procurement of services to any entity, other than in strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act.

“If the answer to this question is NO, then the claimants pray for: a declaration that the contract for services as service operations monitoring agents in four  pilotage districts pursuant to Public Notice No. 4115 Lot 3 cannot be awarded by the defendant to any entity other than one which has participated fully in the processes laid down by the act.

He called for the declaration that the companies to be the ones eligible to be awarded the contract having been shortlisted.

As well as an injunction restraining the NPA from awarding the pilotages to any agents other than the companies that have been shortlisted pursuant to Public Notice No. 4115 Lot 3.