The Nigerian Fish Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has condemned recent plans by the Federal Government to concession the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in Lagos, even as it has described the move as injurious to fishing business in the country.
After the Port Reforms of 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had initiated the move to concession the KLT terminal, but it was however placed on hold for reasons unknown. The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) had also recently revisited the plans which will see the KLT being given to private operators.
The Nigerian Fish Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has condemned recent plans by the Federal Government to concession the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in Lagos, even as it has described the move as injurious to fishing business in the country.
After the Port Reforms of 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had initiated the move to concession the KLT terminal, but it was however placed on hold for reasons unknown. The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) had also recently revisited the plans which will see the KLT being given to private operators.
But the president of NITOA, Mr. Joseph Overo in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week condemned the move saying that it is unhealthy to import bulk and general cargoes to same port where edibles are being handled.
Overo confirmed to our correspondent that talks are still ongoing with the government through NPA to make the government back-down on its plans but that there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
He added that the original plan of the KLT terminal was for handling of fishing and other lighter commodities and not for bulk and general cargoes.
"Our association is having a lot of issues, one with NPA on the privatization or concessioning of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT was declared as a fishing terminal that is KLT 1 and 2 which was earmarked as fishing terminals but as we speak NPA want to go into concession agreement with some private firms"
"They said they want to development the place which is solely for fishing terminal ,they said they want to bring in other kind of business which I must say is not proper”, Overo stated.
He added that fishing terminals are run by the government and it is improper to bring goods with chemical to such terminal. According to him, it is contrary to the laws that guides fishing operations
"We are regulated by international laws which are the E.U and the US, we don't do the kind of business in an environment where contaminated items are and contaminated goods are a major factor, when creating a fishing terminal with tank farms and cement and wheat silos all over the place then you are creating problem for the fishing business in the country" he warned
"We told them that terminals of such are government properties and they should be run as government properties"
"They called us for stakeholders meeting on the development on the 4th of February when we told them that such things are not done that way but they said they will come back to us”. The NITOA boss added.
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