FG starts plan to reposition and make ONNE PORT productive
Lucky Akra, Lagos.
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During a 3 days fact finding tour to Onne Port in Rivers State to unveil the reason why the port is not performing at maximum capacity,The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has used the opportunity to declare the intention of the Federal Government concerning the Port.
According to the information by the Minister’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Eric Ojiekwe, The Minister said, “the Federal Government has expressed its determination to reposition the Onne Port to maximize its huge potentials in export and import trades.
He also confessed that part of the reason he was on ground assessment was to look into why the Rivers Port are not working, it’s challenges and bring a lasting solution to them.
He further said,”I will discuss with stakeholders and we will come up with short term, medium term and long term plans on how to overcome those challenges and make the ports productive”.
Transportation Minister,Mu’azu Sambo also promised to liaise with the FMWH, Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola concerning the issue of the dilapidated access road to the Onne Port and how the repair can be fast track.He also assured that Sukuk IV will take care of that.
He, however, frowned on Terminal Operators who defraud the Federal Government by not complying with payment of the Practitioners’ Operating Fees, warning that it will no longer be tolerated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello- Koko said government is very serious about the need to increase traffic at the Eastern Ports, so as to decongest the Lagos ports.
On the issue of security, he said: ” we are working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security on our Waterways and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has deployed assets under the Deep Blue Project that would beworking with the Nigerian Navy to improve security along the water ways
At the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) Nigeria, the Managing Director, Naved Zafa, while briefing the Minister on their facility, said: ” as part of our Terminal upgrade and expansion project, we have acquired sufficient cargo handling equipment at our terminal to improve the efficiency of the port”.
Speaking further, he reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service has just installed a new scanning machine at the port complex, which was acquired by the Federal Government and inaugurated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).
According to him, the scanner would facilitate trade, ensure security and drastically reduce the importation of illicit goods by unscrupulous persons, adding that it would reduce dwell time by promoting faster and easier treatment of cargoes.
Other facilities visited were: Integrated Logistics Services Terminal, International Container Terminal, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and Brawal .
The Minister was accompanied on the trip by the Director, Finance and Accounts, FMT, Umaru Hassan who represented the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Director, MSD, FMT, Babatunde Sule, Director Legal Services, Pius Oteh, Director Rail, Jimoh Yusfu, Director Press, Eric Ojiekwe, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria among others.
