Minister Sambo being shown round the WACT terminal by its managing director.
The Federal Government has expressed its determination to reposition the Onne Port to maximize its huge potentials in the export and import trades.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo made the disclosure Thursday at Onne, Rivers State, as part of a 3-day fact finding tour to ascertain the reason why the port is not performing optimally.
The minister with the CAC of Customs at the Onne Port.
The minister said “Part of the reason why I am here is to look into why the Rivers Ports are not working. Whatever the challenges are, we will address them. I will discuss with stakeholders and we will come up with short term, medium term and long term plans on how to overcome those challenges and make the ports productive”.
On the issue of the dilapidated access road to the Onne Port, the Minister assured that Sukuk IV will take care of that adding that he would liaise with his counterpart, the Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola to see how it can be fast-tracked.
Some equipment at the Onne Port.
The Minister however frowned at the act of Terminal Operators who defraud the Federal Government by not complying with the payment of the Practitioners Operating Fees, warning that it will no longer be tolerated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello- Koko said that the government is very serious about the need to increase traffic at the Eastern Ports, so as to decongest the Lagos ports.
On the issue of security, Bello-Koko said, ” We are working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security on our Waterways and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has deployed assets under the Deep Blue Project that would be working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security along the waterways.
Stacked containers at the quayside.
While the minister was at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), the Managing Director of the company Naved Zafa briefed the Minister on their facility and said, ” As part of our Terminal upgrade and expansion project, we have acquired sufficient cargo handling equipment at our terminal to improve the efficiency of the port”.
Speaking further, he reiterated that the Nigeria Customs Service has just installed a new scanning machine at the port complex, which was acquired by the Federal Government and inaugurated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).
According to him, the scanner would help in the process to facilitate trade, ensure security and drastically reduce the importation of illicit goods by unscrupulous persons, adding that it would reduce dwell time by promoting faster and easier treatment of cargoes.
Other facilities visited by the minster and his entourage were: Integrated Logistics Services Terminal, International Container Terminal, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and the Brawal Terminal.
The Minister was accompanied on the trip by the Director, Finance and Accounts, FMT, Umaru Hassan who represented the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Director, MSD, FMT, Babatunde Sule, Director Legal Services, Pius Oteh, Director Rail, Jimoh Yusuf, Director Press, Eric Ojiekwe, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidelis Okhiria among others.
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