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The Federal Government has concluded plans to fix the Onne Port access road with Sukuk IV as part of efforts to reposition the port to maximize its huge potential in export and import trades.
Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, made the disclosure yesterday at Onne, Rivers State, as part of a three-day fact finding tour to ascertain why the port is not performing at maximum capacity.
“Part of the reason I’m here is to look into why the Rivers Ports are not working. Whatever the challenges are, we will address them. I will discuss with stakeholders and we will come up with short term, medium term and long term plans on how to overcome those challenges and make the ports productive,” Sambo said.
On the issue of the dilapidated access road to the Onne Port, the minister assured stakeholders that Sukuk IV will take care of that, adding that he would liaise with his Works and Housing counterpart, Babatunde Raji Fashola to see how it can be fast-tracked.
The Minister, however, frowned on Terminal Operators who defraud the Federal Government by not complying with payment of the Practitioners Operating Fees (FOB), warning that it will no longer be tolerated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello- Koko said government is very serious about the need to increase traffic at the Eastern Ports, so as to decongest the Lagos ports.
On the issue of security, he said: “we are working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security on our Waterways and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has deployed assets under the Deep Blue Project that would be working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security along the water ways.”
