FRESH facts emerged over the weekend as to how Sifax Group Consortium; Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, emerged as the preferred bidder for Terminal ‘B’ of Warri Old Port.
Confirming the successful bidding, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) stated that the company offered US$25. 5 Million for the port.
A statement by Amina Othman, Head, Public Communications, BPE said Ecomarine Consortium, the rival company, was disqualified for improper submission of its bidding documents.
She said Ecomarine’s bid price was not announced, adding that Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited’s emergence was, however, subject to the approval of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).
It will be recalled that the Corporate Affairs Manager of Sifax Group; Muyiwa Akande, had last week broke the news of his company’s emergence as the preferred bidder for the Terminal ‘B’ of Warri Old Port, explaining that the concession is for a period of 25 years.
According to the Sifax statement, “the Expression of Interest for the port was advertised in 2014.
At the deadline of the submission, of the EOIs, 13 applications were received. Out of the 13 applications, seven were pre-qualified.
Out of these pre-qualified bidders, five were able to submit their technical and financial proposals on 31st January 2017, the deadline for submission of the proposals.
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“These five companies are Marine Infrastructure Consortium, Bright Ocean Integrated Services Limited, Ecomarine Consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited and Neon Warri Ports Consortium.
At the end of the evaluation of the technical proposal, Ecomarine Consortium and Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited’s financial bids were qualified for the financial bid opening stage.
“After the open transparent competitive bid process which is in line with international best practices, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited was declared the concessionaire of Terminal B, Old Warri Port.”
Speaking immediately after the announcement, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group; Dr Taiwo Afolabi, expressed his appreciation to both the BPE and NCP for the transparent exercise, adding that the concession will enjoy the same Midas touch that has now become the hallmark of SIFAX Group’s businesses.
“This is great news for us as a company to have led this consortium to win this very competitive bid.
While we are glad that we have emerged the preferred bidder, we are not unaware of the enormous responsibility this victory has conferred on us.
However, it is a familiar territory for us having operated the Terminal C at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos successfully in the last 12 years.
We will fall back on the experience and expertise we have developed running the terminal to make a difference at the Warri Port”, he assured.
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