PTOL’s Container Cargo Operations Suffer Setback

Inspite of efforts made by the Part and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL), to return Port Harcourt Ports to container cargo operations, no meaningful results have so far been seen in the struggle for container cargo.

Various effective dates given by the company for the commencement of the containerised cargo business at the Port Harcourt wharf have come and gone without execution of the proposed cargo business.

The Tide on a visit to the port observed that various preparations made towards the beginning of the container cargo operations appear to be abandoned for about two years now, and the various cargo handling equipment that were acquired are still lying idle at the wharf.

One of the stakeholders in the maritime industry when The Tide cornered on this matter said he was vary much surprised that uptill now  that PTOL is still operating on bulk cargo business, inspite of all the publicity and consultation they made.

According to the source who does not want his name publicised; “PTOL has fallen back to bulk cargo business, since the targeted container cargo business is not yielding result, and they have stopped making further effort”.

Efforts made to speak with the public relations officer (PRO) of the company, Mr. Joe Ogudu on the matter was not successful, as some staff told The Tide that he has been away from office for some time now, but a reliable source said that the PRO has resigned from the company due to pressure of container cargo.

It would be recalled that the PTOL, which is one of the port concessionaire at Port Harcourt wharf had in the last three years made several efforts to woo importers into Port Harcourt port.

In December 2009 the company in collaboration with Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (AWLCA) organised a dinner in Port Harcourt to woo importers to patronise the port, but up till now no meaningful result was been seen.

Meanwhile bulk cargo activities in Port Harcourt wharf is experiencing a low traffic, as the expected rise in volume of traffic in rice and other goods demanded during yuletide is low.

The public relations officer (PRO) of the area one command of the Nigerian customs Service (NCS), Mr. D.A. Jack said the reason for the low volume could not be explained as importers did not bring in many goods this season.