Anxiety As Rice, Fish Vessels Abandon Port Harcourt Port

Fresh anxiety last week gripped operators at Port Harcourt Port over the low turnout of rice and fish- laden vessels at the port.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent who visited the port last week confirmed, that the usual beehive of activities at the port was lacking, even as the trucks used for haulage of fish and rice cargoes were all out of operations.  Apart from these, dock workers and truck drivers were also spotted idling away as a result of no activity.

Fresh anxiety last week gripped operators at Port Harcourt Port over the low turnout of rice and fish- laden vessels at the port.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent who visited the port last week confirmed, that the usual beehive of activities at the port was lacking, even as the trucks used for haulage of fish and rice cargoes were all out of operations.  Apart from these, dock workers and truck drivers were also spotted idling away as a result of no activity.
Offices of some of the terminal operators that were equally visited by our correspondent showed that no activities were going on, even as some staff who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the lull in activity was as a result of the absence of ships calling at the port.  
A transporter who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that, “we don’t know what is happening. There is general hardship. No money, not even something to eat. My family has been starving, because there is no business. We don’t know what is happening”
A security operative at the Port Harcourt port also lamented the low activity at the Port Harcourt Ports. He described the port as one that is fast assuming a ghost status.
Chairman, Dock Workers Union, Rivers State chapter, Comrade Ebenezer Oputa, could not be reached for comments on the low traffic of rice and fish vessels when our reporter visited his office. But a close source hinted that low traffic of rice-laden vessels at Port Harcourt port may be linked with federal government financial policy on imported rice which may have made importation of rice an unprofitable venture.
A shipping agent who simply identified himself as Mr  Madu, confirmed the low vessel traffic at Port Harcourt Ports. He disagreed that government hike on imported rice is the reason for low traffic of rice-laden vessels.
Madu said that there is cash crunch in the system coupled with, none-passage of the budget He also said that Indians are at the centre of these businesses, and may have been studying the trend to ascertain if rice importation still has the potentials for profit.
Contacted for comments, Mr. Samuel Harry, Public Relations Officer, Area 1 Customs Port Harcourt declined comments.