FG To Encourage Barge Movement Of Containers To Hinterlands

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to encourage barge movement of containers from the Onne port and other Eastern ports to the hinterlands. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation/ Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, disclosed this recently during an assessment visit to the Onne port in Rivers State, which is currently being managed by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT). Speaking during the visit, Ajani pointed out the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Ports Authority to collaborate with Boat and Barge Operators Association to synchronize and develop a methodology that will result to the movement of containers in barges from its current location to the hinterlands. The Permanent Secretary, who commended the immense efforts of WACT to provide within the port a beautiful work environment that meets international best practice, said “they are doing a great job”. According to her, these efforts is however, being hampered with a basic challenge of goods evacuation from the port as a result of some bad segments of the access road leading from Eleme Junction to Onne Port. She however, assured that government will proffer solutions to the situation in no distance time. On his part, the Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, said: ” We believe in Nigeria. And this believe has helped us set high ambition. It is equally the same believe that has made us to further expand and modernized the terminal”. “The West Africa Container Terminal is equally committed to supporting the Federal Government’s drive to promote non oil export out of the country,” the MD added.

Oyetola directs immediate rehabilitation of Apapa, Tin-Can Ports

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for an immediate rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin-Can ports in Lagos State, Nigeria. The Minister said this at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Headquarters in Lagos in a meeting with the Management and Staff of the Agency shortly after an inspection of facilities at the Lagos Port Complex. Oyetola, who decried the poor state of the collapsed quay sections of the ports noted that the Federal Government understands the importance of ports as it relates to the nation’s economic development hence, stressed the need for immediate commencement of infrastructural renewal of ports across the country. On the need to decongest the ports, the Minister disclosed that he was made to understand that about 6000 containers dating back to 2011 have been abandoned at the ports. According to him, such an act is a hindrance to better service delivery. He therefore, enjoined NPA to synergize with the Nigeria Customs and auction such containers. In addition, Oyetola stated that the current practice of physical examination of containers at the ports was an aberration and called for the deployment of scanners at all terminals. Speaking on the need to rehabilitate the ports access roads and movement to facilitate evacuation of freight through rail from the Apapa port, Oyetola promised to engage the Ministers of Works and Transportation to proffer solutions to these challenges. Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, while welcoming the Minister on his maiden visit to the Agency, expressed optimism that his appointment will herald and provide the needed support for the Agency to amongst other things, secure the needed funds and approvals for the construction and rehabilitation of ports infrastructure in the country, restore 24 hour navigation at the Eastern port as well as work out modalities for increased patronage and bottlenecks affecting the Eastern ports.