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Armed sea robbers’ attack on vessels in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly at the coasts of Bonny, Brass and Yenagoa, have continued to top challenges confronting maritime trade in the Eastern ports of Nigeria.
This was made known Monday as the House of Representatives committee on Ports and Harbours, led by Hon Garba Datti Muhammad, paid a familiarization/oversight visit to the Onne Port in Rivers State.
Onne Port manager, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, represented by Dr. Julius Agbo, noted that amongst other challenges facing the port, pirate attacks had significantly reduced the number of vessels calling at the port.
He however pointed out that in spite the attacks and their negative impact, the Onne Port has recorded an upswing in operations, making it a viable alternative to ports in Lagos presently weighted down by congestion.
According to the Onne Port manager, Alhassan Abubakar, a summary of port operations from January to October 2019, showed that 595 ocean-going vessels (with 36, 298, 066 GRT) and 3, 477 service boat vessels (with 7, 722, 638 GRT) called at the port within the period, cargo traffic stood at 22, 791, 313 metric tonnes, average vessel waiting time is 0.42 days, while average vessel turn-around time is 2.76 days.
He noted that the port boosts of state of the art infrastructure, such as standard quays and cargo handling facilities for container, general and bulk cargoes; deep channel to accommodate bigger vessels calling at the port; efficient pilotage and towage services, as well as operating under the ISPS Security Code level 1.
Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Ports and Harbours, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, noted that the visit was their maiden one to the Onne port.
He said the committee had been to the Nigerian Ports Authority headquarters, as well as the two major ports in Lagos, with the purpose of interacting with ports management, and other industry stakeholders, towards ascertaining the challenges and prospects facing the sector.
Muhammad said the Reps committee was equally interested in knowing the challenges peculiar to the Eastern ports, so as to understand why they are under-utilized. Other issues, he said, include those of state of access roads into the ports, land development within the ports, port operations and efficiency among others.
Pointing out that the committee has oversight over not only the NPA, but the entire sector, the chairman, Ports and Harbours, said they would also seek answers from terminal operators, such as Intels, Bua, Brawal etc, so as to better understand their issues with the NPA management.
Aside from insecurity and pirate attacks plaguing the Eastern ports, the issue of NPA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to host communities was another one of major interest to the Reps members, some of whom represents constituencies in the South South.
Hons. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani), Chisom Promise Dike (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai) and Ken Chikere (Port Harcourt I) noted that NPA, as part of its corporate social responsibility, should think of contributing to the provision of life-long skills and professional expertise that would enable host community members integrate and progress within the maritime sector.