Two committees set up by the management of the Port Harcourt
Ports Complex of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to investigate the fire
outbreak  at a section of the Port
Harcourt Ports last week are expected to submit their reports next week

The Ports Manager of the Port Harcourt Port of the NPA, Mr
Oladele Alabi who disclosed this to our correspondent said the two committees
which were given two weeks to submit their reports would ascertain the
immediate and remote causes of the incident.

At least, four vehicles including tankers were burnt when
fire gutted some parts of the platform of the loading bay at Terminal A of the
Port  last Thursday.

Our Correspondent gathered that although no life was lost as
well as ship was affected but the incident disrupted normal operations at the
bay, as both the drivers of the tankers and the workers ran for their dear
lives.

Our Correspondent who visited the area on Wednesday reported
that although he was not allowed to get the affected areas but normal work had
resumed with a ship on berth.

Confirming the incident, the Port Manager of Nigeria Ports
Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt Port Complex, Mr. Oladele Alabi said the incident
occurred at about 7.30 am within a portion of the Terminal A close to berth one
of the port.

Mr. Alabi, who did not disclosed the extent of damages said
men of the NPA fire Service were on ground to put off the inferno in good time,
thereby preventing it from further damages.

The Port Manager noted that the incident did not affect
operations at the Port as it was within the platform of the stacking area of
the terminal.

Ships are on berth, loading and discharging cargo at the
port despite the incident and general operations are on-going”, he said.

The bay has the capacity of loading 10 tankers of bitumen
daily.

Collins Barasimeye