Real Reasons Vessel Operators Don’t Use Eastern Ports—NPA Boss

September 25, 2019
Eastern Ports
Picture Credit: Felixstowe Dockers

By Adedapo Adesanya  

In line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s Ease of Doing Business Policy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated the agency’s commitment to the optimal operation of the country’s Eastern ports.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, while hosting members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee on Ports and Habours at the Marina, Lagos head office of the NPA on Tuesday.

The Ad-hoc committee was on a fact-finding mission to understand the reasons why the Eastern Ports across the nation were not functioning as optimally as the Western Ports, which is in turn affecting national development.

Ms Bala Usman, during her address, stated that a number of factors deterred vessel owners from patronizing Eastern Ports, some of which included: the level of insecurity on the waterways, shallow depths which hinders the movement of big vessels as well as the problems of poor access roads and rail linkages to Ports in these areas.

The Managing Director of the port then said that management of the NPA was working with all relevant stakeholders towards tackling the challenges that hamper patronage of the Ports as the Federal Executive Council approved the contract last year.

Ms Bala Usman explained that dredging works have been completed on expanding the Warri channel draft to 7.5 metres, which was affected by draft limitations.

It was also disclosed at the meeting that consultants have been engaged to advise on level of investments needed to improve the infrastructural capacity of the port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Onne Ports, according to her, was currently functioning at full capacity.

Ms Bala Usman also used the opportunity to talk about the need for the maritime industry to tap into the potentials of Deep Sea Ports which would assure Nigeria’s future market share in the industry.

To that effect, NPA has granted all requisite approvals for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port for which development has started.

She also noted that the Authority was awaiting response from the promoters of the Badagry Deep Sea Port to enable conclusion on the final outline business case for the project.

On handling the security issued that plagued the waterways, the Managing Director explained that the NPA was purchasing patrol boats and will collaborate with the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Port Police Command to combat crimes on the nations waterways and assured that progress is being made on this front.

Concerning Port access roads nationwide, Ms Bala Usman explained that the NPA has written to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing about the need to prioritise the rehabilitation of these roads.

She noted that the ministry has commenced implementation of this process with the recent award of the construction of Ikom Bridge, which is a key road connecting Cross River State to the North Eastern part of the country and expressed optimism that these steps will provide better linkages to the hinterland and attract more business to the Eastern Ports.

The Ad-hoc committee are expected to visit all the Ports in Nigeria to generate a blue print that would improve patronage at the Eastern Ports and prevent agitations from host communities.

 

 

Adedapo Adesanya

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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