House Committee Applauds PTOL For Investing Massively In Rivers Port

The Federal House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation on Ports has applauded the management of Ports Terminals Operators of Nigeria Limited PTOL for investing massively in terminals in Nigeria Ports Authority NPA, Rivers Port Complex.
The House Committee which was on oversight visit to Rivers Port Complex, Port Harcourt as part of its legislative functions said, the members were in the port to discuss the challenges of the terminal operators, proffer possible solutions to their problems and dialogue on how best to improve the port revenues accruing from the operators.
Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari stated this in Port Harcourt during a tour of the facilities in PTOL terminals in Rivers Port Complex.
The chairman said their reason of touring the facilities is to make sure that things are done in line with Bureau of Public Enterprise Act of 1999.
Hamisu Chidari and his delegation who later visited the Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex, Mrs.Kenechi Edith Okezie said, they are not in the port to witch-hunt any operator, but to know their immediate challenges and proffer solutions to improve their activities in the port.
He noted that PTOL management had invested over half a billion US Dollars in the terminal since it’s concession in 2006.
“We want to see the challenges involving the terminals in order to ensure smooth operations for all the terminal operators here in the complex “.
He assured the operators that the committee would look into their problems and assist in handling their challenges.
Describing the developmental strides at the terminals as massive, the chairman thanked the PTOL management for changing the face of the port by erecting administrative blocks, improving on some of the dilapidated berths and acquiring high powered cranes to ease their activities in the complex.
Earlier, General Manager Operations ,PTOL, Samuel Tende who described PTOL as multipurpose terminal said the it inherited dilapidated structures from the Federal Government during the concession of the terminal.
Accompanied by top management officers, Tende told the legislators that PTOL could now stock over 5,000 containers in the terminal.
The Manager, Operations listed diversion of vessels by NPA, insecurity as it’s major challenges hindering its ease of doing business in Rivers Port Complex and called on the committee to assist them alleviate the problems .
PTOL, Tende said hires the services of the Nigerian Navy to escort their vessels due to insecurity in the waterways.
He also decried lack of a holding bay in the Port and non functional access roads leading to the complex to enhance movement of goods and services.

Chinedu Wosu