Inside NPA’s Multi-Billion Naira Budget: Dredging, Consultancy Costs Trigger Fresh Accountability Questions

Secret Reporters

Fresh questions are being raised over the spending priorities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) following the emergence of a document circulating in the public domain that calls for closer scrutiny of several budgetary allocations under the agency’s management.

The document, obtained by SecretReporters, makes a series of allegations concerning the administration of the NPA under its Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, and urges anti-corruption agencies as well as the National Assembly to examine a number of high-value expenditure items contained in the Authority’s budget.

An analysis of the document highlights concerns over hundreds of billions of naira earmarked for dredging operations, environmental sanitation, consultancy services, vessel waste management, hotel accommodation, conferences and media-related activities. The allegations raise questions about whether the scale of the proposed expenditures reflects value for money and whether sufficient public documentation exists to justify the allocations.

Among the figures cited are proposed allocations of more than ₦115 billion for the Lagos Channel dredging project, over ₦119 billion for Bonny Channel dredging, and more than ₦22 billion for vessel waste reception and management. The document also questions consultancy fees running into hundreds of millions of naira for projects relating to access roads, leased land administration and information technology upgrades.

Budget and maritime sector experts note that agencies such as the NPA routinely oversee capital-intensive projects requiring significant funding. Dredging, channel maintenance and navigational safety operations often involve specialized equipment, technical expertise and international contractors, making them among the most expensive components of maritime infrastructure management.

However, transparency advocates argue that the magnitude of the expenditures warrants an equally high level of public disclosure. According to governance experts, Nigerians have a right to know the procurement methods adopted, the identities of contractors engaged, project milestones achieved, independent valuation reports obtained and the measurable economic benefits expected from each expenditure.

They contend that proactive disclosure of such information would not only strengthen public confidence but also reduce speculation surrounding the management of public funds.

The Nigerian Ports Authority has, however, firmly rejected allegations of wrongdoing linked to its budgetary and procurement activities.

In an official statement issued in May 2025, the Authority described allegations of corruption surrounding its operations as false, misleading and lacking credibility. The NPA maintained that its budgets and expenditures are subject to multiple layers of oversight, including reviews by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Assembly.

The Authority further stated that its procurement processes, including dredging contracts and marine equipment acquisitions, comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and are designed to enhance navigational safety, improve port efficiency and support national economic growth.

Despite the agency’s rebuttal, governance analysts believe the controversy reflects a broader challenge confronting public institutions across Nigeria — the need for greater transparency in the management of public resources.

They argue that the routine publication of procurement records, contract awards, project performance reports, payment schedules, completion certificates and independent audit findings would help address public concerns before they evolve into larger controversies.

Whether the allegations ultimately withstand scrutiny or not, the debate has once again drawn attention to the critical importance of transparency, accountability and timely disclosure in the administration of public funds.

As calls for greater openness intensify, attention is likely to remain focused on how public institutions justify major expenditures and demonstrate value for money to Nigerian taxpayers.