Author(s): EDEMUMOH A. ESSANG, ESQ & DR. BOMA G. TOBY | Volume 20 (1)Dec., 2023
ABSTRACT
This article undertook an appraisal of the legal frameworks for Public Private Partnership with the aim of assessing the performance of Nigerian seaports and seaports in United Kingdom and Australia. The central aim of this article was to appraise the legal frameworks promoting the utilisation of Public Private Partnership for seaport development in Nigeria. The article adopted the doctrinal method of research with primary sources of information drawn from legislations and case laws, while the secondary sources were drawn from journal articles, textbooks, periodicals, and internet sources. The article found that the Nigerian seaports sector has faced numerous challenges in recent years. These include inefficiencies, corruption, and poor infrastructure. The article identified problems affecting the use of Public Private Partnership to develop Nigerian seaports to include, amongst others, the cost of doing business which is generally high due to inefficiency in port operations and poor port management. In addition, the existing legal frameworks in Nigeria for Public Private Partnership for seaport development are not comprehensive and do not cover all aspects of port development. Thus, relying on funding from the Federal Government alone, to improve port operations and management reduces the likelihood of our seaports becoming competitive within the African Continental Free Trade Agreement framework. The article recommended, amongst others, that despite these limitations, the legal frameworks for assessing the performance of Nigerian seaports can be strengthened by improving the collection and analysis of data on port development and with lessons drawn from other jurisdictions.
Keywords: Appraisal, Public Private Partnership and Seaports