Operators Hail Port Concession, Say It Has Increased Cargo Traffic

A cross section of  port operators have  said that the six years of investments in ports concession had boosted cargo traffic at the seaports.
The operators made the observation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos last weekend.
According to spokesman for Sifax Group; one of the concessionaires; Mr Oliver Omajuwa, the company had increased its terminal capacity at the Tin-Can Island port from 9,500 containers in 2006 to 14,000 containers this year.

A cross section of  port operators have  said that the six years of investments in ports concession had boosted cargo traffic at the seaports.
The operators made the observation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos last weekend.
According to spokesman for Sifax Group; one of the concessionaires; Mr Oliver Omajuwa, the company had increased its terminal capacity at the Tin-Can Island port from 9,500 containers in 2006 to 14,000 containers this year.
He said that the company was rehabilitating the terminal floor and perimeter fencing at the cost of N2.65 billion.
He said that 10 gantry cranes and two new Liebherr cranes would be imported by the company before the end of this year.
Similarly, spokesman for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Micheal Ajayi, said that the concession programme had led to the emergence of 25 terminal operators.
He said that the operators emerged under the Lease, Operate and Transfer agreement and Build, Operate and Transfer initiative.
He said that this was adopted to bring efficiency, competitiveness and international best practices to port management.
“The terminal operators, in keeping faith with the concession agreement, have invested in cargo handling equipment with a view to improving delivery operations.
“The Port and Terminal Multi-services Ltd. has invested over 100 million dollars in infrastructural development, while the Port and Terminal Operation Ltd. has invested over N3.2 billion.
“ENL Consortium has invested over 7 Million euros and N1 billion on equipment, while INTELS has invested over four billion dollars.
“As part of its investments in the ports, the Apapa Bulk Terminal procured a single new cement loader worth five million dollars,’’ he said.
Mr Zeb Ikokide, the President, Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (IFFN), said there had been increase in cargo traffic into the country because the port concessionaires were doing well.
“Concessionaires are now trying to specialise in terms of cargo they handle within their terminals and providing special equipment relating to the cargo they handle.
“By this type of happenings, you will find that the concession of Nigerian ports has brought in professionalism in cargo handling,’’ Ikokide told NAN.
Alex Peters, the Secretary of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST), said that the concession had helped Nigerian economy.
“It has led to the transformation of the ports to modern or ultra-modern ports,’’ he said.
According to him, it has made port operations more efficient and  has enhanced government income through customs revenue.