Uche Usim, Abuja and Steve Agbota
The Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh, has disclosed that the Terminal ‘B’ Warri Old Port concessioned to Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited is for a 25-year period and will attract an annual lease fee of $1,621,500, in addition to the entry fee and monthly throughput fee chargeable on the volume of cargo handled.
This was as he also reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to create a private sector-led economy while calling on local and international businessmen to take advantage of government’s open door policy to establish businesses in the country.
Speaking at the official hand over of the Terminal ‘B’ Warri Old Port to the concessionaire – Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited in Warri, Delta State recently, Okoh noted that the Nigerian Ports are the main gateway to the country and are key to the Federal Government’s policy of economic diversification.
He said that the objective of the government port concession initiative was to increase efficiency at the ports with the ultimate goal of modernising and making them more competitive.
“The objective of the government in port concession is to increase efficiency in our ports, improve service delivery, upgrade and modernise facilities in the ports, reduce cost of shipping and clearing of goods at the ports and relieve the government of the burden of financing the sector,” he stressed.
He assured that the implementation of the covenanted development plan for the concessionaire would be closely monitored by relevant government agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), BPE and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to ensure compliance with laid down rules
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations of NPA, Sokonte Davies, said the concessioning of port facilities was carried out to enhance productivity and attract more cargoes to the hitherto abandoned port.
While appealing to the people in the port community to support government’s initiatives aimed at developing the maritime industry, Bala Usman said the port concession would enhance the economy of Delta State and create jobs for people in the host communities.
She said: “It is our duty as 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. Be rest assured that NPA will provide the necessary support to help you settle down and operate successfully.