FG Goes After New-PDP Interests In Shipping

•    Diverts ships from unfriendly terminals

There are indications that the festering intra party feud which is tearing the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have reared its head in the nation’s maritime industry, especially in the ports, where some terminals and jetties are being denied vessels.

•    Diverts ships from unfriendly terminals

There are indications that the festering intra party feud which is tearing the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have reared its head in the nation’s maritime industry, especially in the ports, where some terminals and jetties are being denied vessels.
Shipping Position Daily investigations revealed that some terminals and jetties in both Lagos and Port Harcourt may have become first victims of the high powered politics of survival and acrimony among top echelons of the ruling party.
While our correspondents in Lagos learnt that some private jetties that had been farmed out to party faithful and which had been enjoying prime patronage are now being denied cargoes, our correspondents in Port Harcourt and Onne; both in Rivers state uncovered at least two cases of outright diversion of ships from a terminal in Port Harcourt to another one in Onne.
In Lagos, sources confirmed that one of the Free Trade Zone facilities (names withheld) has been denied a ship, while private jetties belonging to disloyal party members have also been  blacklisted.
Specifically, our correspondent confirmed that a ship called MV BBC was diverted to another facility last week in Lagos.
Similarly, at least two vessels have so far been diverted from Port Harcourt port, Onne port for yet-to-be-admitted reasons.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed that the firs t ship that was diverted was MV Kota Binga, while another one MV Kota Berlien was also ordered to go and discharge in Onne port.
Sources in Port Harcourt were more surprised because the two ships were loaded with general cargo, which Port Harcourt port is known for.
“We are surprised because the directive came without any prior information to the ships agents, this is the second of it”, our source pointed out and wondered why the terminals in Onne were being given general cargo when everyone knows that they handle containers mostly.
Although details of the jetties affected could not be confirmed as at press time, sources however hinted that it is the facilities that receive cargo from third parties that were affected most.
“The party members had shared the jetties among themselves, but when the in-fighting started, those who are now in the new-PDP are considered as enemies that should not be empowered any longer, an insider source told Shipping Position Daily on Friday.