WACT’s $10m facility upgrade boosts Onne Port cargoes traffic as FG mulls marine resources for ERGP

Fortunes of the Onne Port in Rivers State have been boosted 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.”

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.

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.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s rich maritime resources are currently receiving
consideration from the Federal Government as part of its economic recovery
and growth plan (ERGP).

Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who disclosed this
at the African Day of Seas and Oceans, hosted by the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos yesterday, said the
maritime resources represent a vital economic safeguard and vehicle for the
successful implementation of the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s
ERGP, which must be tapped maximally.

Gbajabiamila pledged that the legislature would support efforts by the
executive to ensure sustainable management of the country’s vast marine
resources.

Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the agency had
sent six International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments to the
Federal Government for ratification as part of efforts to ensure
sustainable management of the marine environment.

Dakuku reiterated NIMASA’s focus on the development and protection of
the marine environment, saying: “Our efforts in this area have been
recognised by the IMO.”