ANXIETY IN PORT HARCOURT PORT

Following complaints of poor performance of Port Harcourt Ports in area of vessel traffic since the ports were concessioned, there are reports that the presence of members  of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport at the Port Harcourt Ports is said to be causing panic among the management of two terminal operators -BUA  and PTOL in the area.

Following complaints of poor performance of Port Harcourt Ports in area of vessel traffic since the ports were concessioned, there are reports that the presence of members  of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport at the Port Harcourt Ports is said to be causing panic among the management of two terminal operators -BUA  and PTOL in the area.
Last week, Thursday Honourable  Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyi, Chairman House Committee on Marine Transport led members of the Committee to Port Harcourt on what was described as a “fact finding visit” to access the level of compliance  in the concessioning agreement reached between BUA, PTOL Federal Government at the Port Harcourt Ports.
The committee members which arrived at the premises ofNPA Port Harcourt were received by the Acting General Manager, Eastern Zone of NPA, Mr. Empire Uchenna Ugochukwu, and the Rivers Port Manager Mr.LA . Alabi.
Receiving the guests at the zonal office of NPA conference room, Mr. Ugochukwu expressed his appreciation for the visit of House committee members to the Port Harcourt Ports. He said that the concession policy by Federal Government has brought benefits to area in terms of facility development and efficient operations. He noted that Nigerian Ports particularly those in the Eastern zone have improved significantly as a result of the concession policy.
Responding, the House Committee Chairman, Hon  Ugwuanyi, noted that they are at the Ports for special assignment, which he said is very important to Federal Government.
Hon Ugwuanyio, said that the visit is anchored on the House Resolution for federal government to intervene on the deplorable conditions of Port Harcourt Ports and other Ports in the Eastern Zone.
“We are here to visit, inspect and interact with the port operators, and at last report back to the House” Hon Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyio,  explained.
Responding to questions from journalists who accompanied the Committee Members on inspection of the Port Harcourt Ports, Hon Ugwuanyi, declined to comments on what he observed during the fact- finding visit. “We are messengers on assignment, we have asked them to give us documents. When we receive it, we will then go back and tender it to the House for further consideration of all the issues. This is not the normal oversight mandate”, Hon Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyi, stated.
He said that they are not here to make comparison, but assured that when they are through, details of their report will be made public.
Efforts to get the reactions of the chief executives of the two terminal operators; BUA and PTOL were abortive as they refused to offer any reactions to the lawmakers’ findings.