WACT’s $10m facility upgrade boosts Onne Port cargoes traffic

Fortunes of the Onne Port in Rivers State was boosted yesterday as the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) acquired two mobile harbour cranes for cargoes handling.

The new cargoes handling facility, estimated at $10 million would bring WACT at par with the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in terms of equipment and operational efficiency.

Speaking at the commissioning, Managing Director of WACT, Aamir Mirza, disclosed that the investment has attracted 700 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs, saying the company recorded a 17 per cent growth in 2017, 21 per cent growth in 2018 and 20 per cent this year.

Mizra described the $10 million investment as an enabler of customers’ satisfaction, adding, “Our vision is to be the best performing container terminal in West Africa.

“We believe this vision can be realised early enough if government supports us to reduce the challenges by ensuring safety of vessels on our waters and improved road connectivity, among others.”

Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, commended WACT for ensuring that the country met objectives of establishing the free zone.

He promised to run the free zone in a professional manner and assured of constant power supply to the zone for efficient service delivery.

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, also lauded the company for the development and urged shippers to patronise the Onne Port.

Usman, who was represented by Port Manager, Al-Hassan Ismail, said government was reviewing the security of vessels on the nation’s high sea and promised to continue to sweep the channel to aid navigation to the Eastern port.

Responding, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, said the new facility would aid efficiency and improve cargoes dwell time, stressing government’s commitment to encourage more importers to patronise the Onne Port.

Controller General of Customs, Ahmeed Ali confirmed WACT’s facility compliance level, adding that the upgrade would enhance clearance of goods at the port to meet the customs best practices globally.

Ali, who was represented by the Controller Zone, Assistant Comptroller General, Francis Enwereuzor, commended the company for its sustained investment aimed at raising the bar for operations at the Onne Port.