Apparently optimistic of a new lease of life for the once-abandoned facilities, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, has pledged his support for the new concessionaire of Warri Port Terminal B’ Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited.
This was expressed when the board and management team of the company paid a courtesy visit on him in Warri, Delta State after officially taking over the terminal.
The monarch said he was delighted at the concession of the terminal because that has been his desire since ascending the throne, adding that he has been mounting pressure on relevant government agencies and senior officials to do something urgently about the hitherto abandoned terminal.
He tasked the management of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited to bring their ingenuity and business acumen to bear so that the terminal becomes economically viable and a source of blessing to the Warri kingdom. He also promised to lend fatherly assistance at all times to the concessionaire towards the success of its operations.
“I am very delighted with the coming of the company to Warri. It has always been my wish that the port is fully utilized. Warri is now ready for business and economic growth. The relative peace that the town had enjoyed in the last few years is a pointer to the readiness of all stakeholders to move Warri towards economic development and social integration. I want to urge the company to take advantage of the conducive environment to positively affect the host communities especially in the area of job creation”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited; Dr. Taiwo Afolabi had solicited the cooperation of the monarch and the people, even as he assured that the company was interested in collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in the industry and host community for the benefit of all concerned.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the concessionaire recently took possession of the terminal after the formal handing over by both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The handing over was done by the Managing Director, NPA, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte Davies, and Director General, BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh.
At the ceremony, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, while pledging the support of her agency to the concessionaire, urged the host communities to cooperate with the company in order for it to operate successfully at the port.
She said: “It is our duty as 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. Be rest assured that NPA will provide the necessary support to help you settle down and operate successfully.
On his own part, Mr. Alex Okoh had described the bidding process that led to the concession has been very 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.
He said: “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 recognized 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.”
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