You’re Killing Our Port, PTOL Managing Director Tells NPA

The Managing Director of Ports and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL); Mrs Lizzy Ovbude has accused Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) of deliberately issuing out policies aimed at killing PTOL terminal at Port Harcourt Port.
Mrs Obvude stated this recently in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, shortly on arrival from Lagos where she attended a maritime event.

The Managing Director of Ports and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL); Mrs Lizzy Ovbude has accused Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) of deliberately issuing out policies aimed at killing PTOL terminal at Port Harcourt Port.
Mrs Obvude stated this recently in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, shortly on arrival from Lagos where she attended a maritime event.
She said that it is unfortunate that the NPA is deliberately dishing out measures that is against the business interest of PTOL, and condemned the continuous diversion of Port Harcourt port- bound ships and vessels in a fiat to another port in Rivers State.
She maintained that this practice is wrong and does not encourage business completion, neither is it in tandem with the contractual agreement between PTOL and NPA.
She alleged that while PTOL is striving to meet the terms of its contractual agreement with the NPA, the landlord is busy taking side and favoring some terminal operators against others.
She complained that for over three years, PTOL had suffered the undue effect of diverting ships and vessels to other ports instead of its designated port of arrival.
‘’These diversions have affected PTOL. While we conform to NPA on the terms of agreement, NPA is busy giving undue favours to other competing operators, to ensure our market share is taken away. Such transfer to other terminals of ship that were to discharge their cargoes at PTOL is unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to kill PTOL Port’’, Mrs Ovbude alleged.
She therefore asked management of NPA to provide answers as to why such undue favour is allowed to go on, unchecked. “I have tried to comply with all the obligations of lease, yet this unfairness had continued to exist. Please tell me who want to kill PTOL?, Mrs Obvude asked.
Shipping Position Daily however recalls that one of the main actors in the allegations;  Intels in  Onne Port had in a recent media interaction in Onne, denied enjoying any monopoly.
 
General Manager, Legal and Corporate Affairs of Intels; Mr  Mike Epelle had said at the parley that NPA gave Intels the sole right to discharge all oil and gas related cargo, ships and vessels at Onne port. He added that the arrangement was backed up by a court pronouncement, which, according to him, has not been challenged by anybody till date.