The Federal Government has said it will expeditiously review all ports concession in the industry.
The Minister of Transportation, Alh. Muazu Jaji Sambo have the indication on Friday at a stakeholders meeting with Onne & Rivers Port Complexes.
He said: “the Federal Ministry of Transportation will expeditiously review all Concession Agreements and ensure strict compliance with the terms by both the NPA and the Concessionaires.”
He also committed providing every support necessary to ensure that these critical national assets are fully maximized.
The engagement was primarily to listen to the challenges the operators are facing and it’s impacting optimization of the facility.
The minister promised to tackle security and other issues bedeviling the ports.
“We are set to frontally tackle the challenge of channel insecurity which has slowed the growth momentum of the Eastern Ports by deploying assets of the Deep Blue project and the renewed synergy between the NPA and the Nigerian Navy” he said.
He noted that “the recent growth in vessel traffic in Onne Port especially for exports is a testament to the strategic importance of the Eastern Ports in supporting the renewed export orientation of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.”
“The recent establishment of an Export Processing Terminal at Onne Port by Messrs WACT is highly commendable. I will like to also appreciate Brawal for the timely support provided the NPA at crucial times” he noted..
“I want to also appreciate the expansion works being undertaken by ICTSI, WACT, INTELS and PTOL. The palliative works on the Port access roads by Messrs Vital is also highly appreciated” he said.
He noted that most of the challenges of aging infrastructure and allied matters which the stakeholders had previously raised with the NPA Management have been brought to his attention..
He thus promised to provide measurable solutions as quick as possible.
