Stakeholders were on Thursday optimistic
that the concession of Terminal `B’, Warri
Old Port, would not only reinvigorate the
maritime sector but would also boost cargo
operations in the Southeast.
The Federal Government on Tuesday,
concessioned the Terminal `B’ of Warri Old
Port to SIFAX Group-led Consortium, Ocean
and Cargo Terminal Services Ltd.
Sea port
Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Ltd.
was declared the preferred bidder to
operate the terminal for a period of 25
years.
Following the development, stakeholders, in
separate interviews with Newsmen said
that the upgrade and activation of the
Warri Old port was long expected, saying
that effective operation of the port would
complement the Lagos ports.
Mr Abudu Eroje, Deputy Secretary-General,
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)
commended the concession of the Warri
Port.
He said that when fully operational, the
port would ease the persistent gridlock on
roads leading to the Lagos ports.
Eroje commended the Nigerian Ports
Authority (NPA) for redesigning the port
and urged the new concessionaire to work
on facility development and constant
maintenance.
According to him, most of the problems
port users are facing at the Lagos ports
are traceable to lack of maintenance
culture.
“I am impressed with the feat so far
achieved by NPA; South East-bound
cargoes can be routed to the Warri Port.
“This in effect will reduce the cost of doing
business in our ports and will have positive
effects on the prices of goods,’’ he said.
Mr Abilo Ochuko, Lagos Zonal Chairman of
the Nigerian Licensed Ship Chandlers
Association, said that the concession of
the Terminal `B’ of Warri Old Port would
create more job opportunities for
unemployed youths in the Southeast.
“The ease of doing business which
government has been talking about for
some time is now coming to reality.
“Shippers can now make informed choice
between Lagos Port and Warri Port
because business is about choice,’’ he said.
Ochuko, however, advised the Federal
Government to provide adequate security
cover in the area to attract cargoes to the
port.
According to him, shippers will not want to
patronise the port if in doubt of effective
security coverage.
The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) has
so far concessioned 23 seaport terminals
since the commencement of the port
concession programme in 2006.
Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/
maritime-stakeholders-laud-concession-of-
warri-port-terminal/
