Port Manager Hails FG’s Concession Policy

The Federal Government concession policy of the Ports across the country has been described as a good development.

The Port Manager, Rivers Ports Complex, Mr Lawrence Oladele Alabi made the assertion in a statement issued by the Chief Port Public Affairs Manager, Mrs Barbra Nche-Achukwu and made available to The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt, recently.

Mr Alabi said there is a remarkable improvement at the ports within the past six years when the policy was introduced, adding that those who are criticising the concession policy have an ulterior motive.

According to him, “the concession is beneficial to the government and the people, particularly in improving the status of Port Terminals across the country,” stressing that the Federal Government deserved commendation for coming up with such policy.

He lauded the activities of the Terminal operators at the Port, saying that they have been doing their best, despite some constraints.

Mr Alabi however called on the Terminal operators to improve on their services by investing more funds into the reactivation of other sections of the Ports in order to boost economic activities at the Port to a deserved level.

“It is expected that they should invest adequate funds in infrastructural development and in the area of human capacity building,” he said, and described the relationship between Rivers Port and the Terminal operator s as very cordial.

The Port Manager further described the relationship between the Port and their tenants at the Port as one that is based on mutual benefits, adding that, “the relationship between the management of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Port Harcourt Port and the Terminal Operators is good. It is mutual and cordial, and I want to say that it is based on mutual respect achored on the principle of management.

He hinted that as landlords, they co-ordinates and implement the security policies of the Port, offer technical expertise as well as make appropriate imputes and counsel the Terminal operators when necessary.

“The feeling of security within and around Port has given the Terminal operators an enabling environment to operate and do their business without anxiety or fear,” he noted.