Author: Editor

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Wednesday, 06 February 2019, assented to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, now Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2019 (“The Act”). By the passage of the Act, the Federal Government has demonstrated commitment towards the welfare of consumers and the citizens at large. Continue reading “President Muhammadu Buhari Assents to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill”

On 02 February, 2019, our Managing Partner, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, ran the 3^rd Annual Access Bank 10km Lagos City Marathon race to create awareness for clean oceans and the need to recycle plastics. Continue reading “Access Bank Lagos City Marathon- Creating Awareness for Clean Oceans”

 

On 25 January 2019, the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Executive Order 007 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (the “Scheme”). The Scheme is aimed at closing the gap in the infrastructural deficit plaguing the country, particularly in the road transport sector. Continue reading “President Muhammadu Buhari Signs The Executive Order 007 OF 2019”

Recently, our Senior Partner, Paul Usoro SAN, was discussing with stakeholders in the telecoms industry, on “Optimising Telecoms Infrastructure in Nigeria”, in a sensitisation program organised by the Nigerian Continue reading “Legal Framework for Telecommunications Infrastructure Rollout – Paul Usoro, SAN”

Mfon Usoro with the Secretary General of International Maritime Organization, Mr Kitack Lim, at the ongoing International Maritime Organization Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy, in Nairobi, Kenya. Continue reading “Mrs. Mfon Usoro at the IMO Side Event Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy”

The Managing Partner of Paul Usoro & Co., Mrs. Mfon Usoro, was appointed by the Akwa Ibom State Government (“AKSG“) in 2016, to head the Akwa Ibom State Technical Committee on the Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Industrial City (the “TC“). The TC is a high-powered private sector-led committee, charged with the task of the realization of the IDSP and IIC projects. Continue reading “The Managing Partner of Paul Usoro & Co. heads the Akwa Ibom State Technical Committee on the Ibom Deep Sea Port and Ibom Industrial City Projects”

• • Ibom Deep Sea Port Project (“IDSP”) is a Greenfield deep sea port project initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”) and the Akwa Ibom State Government (“AKSG”). The IDSP, which is located within the boundaries of the Ibom Industrial City, is a Public/Private Partnership Programme to be managed by an entity described as the Project Development and Management Company (“PDMC”), and the PDMC will be jointly owned by the FGN, AKSG and private sector investors in the ratio of 20:20:60 respectively.

• • Paul Usoro & Co (“PUC”) is currently advising and representing the AKSG before the Akwa Ibom State High Court, and the Court of Appeal in respect of the dispute arising from the execution of the Consultancy Agreement appointing Felak Concept Limited as a Technical Consultant in IDSP. PUC, on behalf of AKSG, had approached the Court to enforce its right to execute the Ibom Deep Sea Port Project without let or hindrance howsoever from a purported stakeholder in the Project. PUC successfully obtained a protective injunction, and also defended an application which sought to challenge the State High Court’s jurisdiction to entertain the Suit. The Defendant was dissatisfied with the Ruling with regard to the challenge to the Court’s jurisdiction and same is currently a subject of an Appeal before the Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal.

• • The Akwa Ibom State Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Sea Port and Industrial City (the “TC”), a committee set up by the AKSG for the realization of the IDSP, and development of the Ibom Industrial City (the “Projects”), also engaged the services of PUC to provide ad-hoc legal support to the committee, periodically.

• • In furtherance of that, PUC in collaboration with another legal adviser, advised the TC on the following:
    • The procurement processes of Akwa Ibom State for consultants/contractors/investors;
    • With respect to the project, whether it is a regulatory requirement to obtain the approval of the Bureau for  Public Procurement (BPP) for the appointment of consultants/contractors, and selective tendering process;
    • At what point, and to what extent the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission will be involved in the Projects as prescribed by law; and
    • The process for the establishment of a state owned public entity as the SPV in the proposed PDMC.

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