By Hauwa Ali
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, has disclosed that the Federal government plans to increase traffic at the Eastern Ports, by rehabilitating roads so as to decongest the Lagos ports.
Bello-Koko stated this during the minister of transportation’s inspection of the port facility on Lagos recently.
According to him, the current state of the roads are an impediment to export and import trade.
“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 be working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security along the waterways.” He said.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, also confirmed the Federal Government’s plans to commence the rehabilitation of the Onne Port access corridor to allow for the resusitation of international trade through the seaport.
According to Sambo the road maintenance exercise now moved to the Ministry of Works as such, rehabilitation will commence shortly.
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The Minister who also frowned at collapsed berths at the port reassured stakeholders said that the challenges will be addressed soon.
“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”, he stated.
He also cautioned terminal operators who have refused to collect Practitioners Operating Fees on behalf of the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria stating that it would no longer be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) Nigeria, Naved Zafa, told the minister: “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.”
He disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has just installed at the port complex a new scanning machine, which was acquired by the Federal Government.
According to him, the scanner will facilitate trade, ensure security and drastically reduce the importation of illicit goods by unscrupulous persons, while reducing vessel dwell time by promoting faster and easier treatment of cargoes.
Other facilities visited included Integrated Logistics Services Terminal, International Container Terminal, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and Brawal.
The Minister who was accompanied by the ministry’s Director, Finance and Accounts, Umaru Hassan, who represented the Permanent Secretary, NPA MD, Koko, and Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, among others is on a three day tour of the Eastern ports aimed at unravelling why they are underutilised.
