Maritime
‘Rivers Port Improves Economy Of Nigeria’
The Management of Rivers Port Complex says the Port had done a lot to improve the economic growth and development of the country.
This assertion was contained in a statement by the Chief Port Public Affairs Officer of the Port, Mrs Barbra Ejemeh Nchey-Achukwu and made available to The Tide Correspondent in Port Harcourt recently.
According to the statement, the Port account for 10 per cent of the business activities in cargo portfolio in Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), adding that it also provide critical services to the concessionaires and stakeholders, while finished products of Petroleum were brought into the country.
The statement also has it that Rivers Port is still very relevant in the scheme of economic activities by sustaining the nation’s economy, yielding huge revenue to the country as it performed its roles and mandate by the Federal Government Satisfactorily.
As the Port Clocks its 100 years of maritime services this year, the statement further said it would continue to operate ship and cargo operations within its catchment areas of North East, South East and South South, disclosing that the Port was provided with wharfage and berthing facilities in 1926 to cope with domestic trade along the Niger Delta Line and other parts of the country.
Accessing its activities in the past 100 years, the statement said the composite nature of the port had encouraged it to administer 47 Jetties within close proximity and far flung locations, stressing that,” the port is a modest port with the traditional ways of handling cargo. It has 8 berths and 47 Jetties.”
It also stated that as a natural port that has an access channel at the Bonny Rivers approximately 52 noutical miles from the fairway Buoy to the wharf area, it is made up of Port Harcourt Hard quays with a total quay length of 1,290 metres, which could accommodate vessels within the range of 110 to 195 metres in Length over All (LOA).
The Port, it was further gathered is equipped with 16 tank farms of 3,048 tonns capacity for bulk oil installation with a conveyor belt and a pier holding the structure, while there are also seven transit sheds storage of 26,337.15 square meters capacity.
On the area of physical infrastructure, they have embarked on some projects such as Visual Personnel Network (VPN) to access information, maintained crafts regularly, rehabilitate berths one, two and three which are 74 per cent completed.
It also rehabilitate road and water distribution network which is 74 per cent completed, rehabilitate fenders at the quay apron which is in progress while preliminary under water survey of sheet, concrete pile and bulk heads for wave is on going.
“Rivers Port is also receiving massive facelift along side a high volume of activities, the statement further said, pointing out that the two concessionaires, ports and Terminals Operators Nigeria Limited (PTOC) and Bua Terminal Limited living up to expectation in their contract terms in the area of construction and rebuilding of facilities.
It however noted that the services at the port continued to change with time following the decision of the government to shift focus to other activities expected to generate local employment.
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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