The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured the new concessionaire at Warri port Terminal B; Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited of support in the operations of the concessioned terminal.
This was contained in a statement by the Corporate Affairs Manager, SIFAX Group, Mr Muyiwa Akande, in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Terminal ‘B’ was concessioned for a period of 25 years at an annual lease fee of 1.62 million dollars. The fee was in addition to the entry fee and monthly throughput fee chargeable on the volume of cargo handled.
According to the NPA, the terminal operators should be rest assured that authority will provide the necessary support to help them settle down and operate successfully.
The concessionaire, Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited, had taken possession of the terminal after the formal handing over by NPA and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The Managing Director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr Sokonte Davies, pledged the support of her agency to the concessionaire.
She urged the host communities to cooperate with the company to ensure its successfully operations at the port.
“It is our duty at NPA to achieve an efficient and profitable port management in the country.
‘We are delighted that another milestone is recorded today with this hand over to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, the winner of the competitive bidding process for the terminal.
“Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the host communities to support this company because the presence and smooth operations of this new business will greatly impact the local economy around here,” she said.
On his own part, the Director General, BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, described the bidding process that led to the concession as transparent, adding that the best bidder eventually emerged as the winner.
He further urged the concessionaire to abide by the terms of the contract agreement while reiterating the stance of BPE to monitor the company’s operations for strict agreement compliance.
“Port constitutes a strategic gateway to the country and the nation’s economic prosperity depends to a large extent on how efficient the maritime industry fares.
‘That’s the major reason the industry has received a great attention from this administration.
” We also recognised that port efficiency can best be achieved with the private sector involvement.
That’s why we are delighted that this terminal will soon enjoy the level of efficiency that other concessioned terminals across the country have been exposed to over the years,” Okoh said.
The Group Managing Director of SIFAX Group, the concessionaire’s lead partner; Mr Adekunle Oyinloye promised that the company would deliver on the mandate of running an efficient port that will be a pride of all Nigerians.
He anchored his confidence on the pedigree of the partners that has spanned over three decades in the maritime industry.
He pledged that areas like customer service, investment in human capital and equipment as well as partnership with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders would receive deserving attention by the company.
On his part, the Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said the new business would not only stimulate economic activities in the local communities, but also contribute greatly to the country’s economic prosperity.
Also speaking, Mr Simon Okeke, the Port Manger, Delta Ports, said the additional terminal was a milestone which would increase maritime activities at the port.
He said that the port now had a lot of facilities, especially with the dredging of the Escravos Channel.
Okeke implored the concessionaire to introduce a linear vessel to the port to boost business activities and expressed confidence that business men at Nnewi, Onitsha in Anambra and other adjoining communities would patronise the port.
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