The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it will give necessary support to help Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited to achieve smooth operations at Warri port.
The Corporate Affairs Manager, SIFAX Group, Mr Muyiwa Akande, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to the NPA, the terminal operators should be rest assured that authority will provide the necessary support to help them settle down and operate successfully.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the concessionaire of the Warri Port Terminal B, Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited, had taken possession of the terminal after the formal handing over by NPA and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The Managing Director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr Sokonte Davies, pledged the support of her agency to the concessionaire.
She urged the host communities to cooperate with the company to ensure its successfully operations at the port.
“It is our duty at NPA to achieve an efficient and profitable port management in the country.
‘We are delighted that another milestone is recorded today with this hand over to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, the winner of the competitive bidding process for the terminal.
“Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the host communities to support this company because the presence and smooth operations of this new business will greatly impact the local economy around here,” she said.
On his own part, the Director General, BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, described the bidding process that led to the concession as transparent, adding that the best bidder eventually emerged as the winner.
He further urged the concessionaire to abide by the terms of the contract agreement while reiterating the stance of BPE to monitor the company’s operations for strict agreement compliance.
“Port constitutes a strategic gateway to the country and the nation’s economic prosperity depends to a large extent on how efficient the maritime industry fares.
‘That’s the major reason the industry has received a great attention from this administration.
” We also recognised that port efficiency can best be achieved with the private sector involvement.
That’s why we are delighted that this terminal will soon enjoy the level of efficiency that other concessioned terminals across the country have been exposed to over the years,” Okoh said.
The Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr Adekunle Oyinloye, the concessionaire’s lead partner, promised that the company would deliver on the mandate of running an efficient port that will be a pride of all Nigerians.
He anchored his confidence on the pedigree of the partners that has spanned over three decades in the maritime industry.
He pledged that areas like customer service, investment in human capital and equipment as well as partnership with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders would receive deserving attention by the company.
The Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said the new business would not only stimulate economic activities in the local communities, but also contribute greatly to the country’s economic prosperity.
