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By Ebubu Egbufor
The Nigerian Navy and other security outfits have been urged to beef up security at Eastern ports to encourage importers to bring in their vessels and cargoes to the ports.
Managing Director of Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited, PTOL, Mr. Jose Lok, made the appeal while speaking with members of the Business and Maritime Writers’ Association of Nigeria (BUMWAN) last Thursday in his office in Port Harcourt.
Jose Lok who spoke through his Corporate Affairs manager, Mr. Jonathan Njoku, said, “If our ports are well secured, vessels will come, importers will have more confidence to bring their cargo around.”
He pointed out that right now, many importers especially those from Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State prefer taking their cargoes to far away Lagos because they have more confidence of the safety of their cargoes there.
According to the PTOL MD, ensuring adequate security at the Eastern ports would attract more vessels and cargoes thereby boosting the economy of the states in the region.
He added that the insecurity at the ports is also affecting the prices of imported goods in this part of the country, stressing that importers spend a lot needlessly on security and the end users bear the brunt.
“If the importers spend a lot needlessly on security, they have to factor it into the prices of their goods and end users pay for whatever they send. So things will be cheaper if those needless security expenses are taken care of. I call it needless because in Lagos, importers don’t make such provisions on security. They don’t spend money to ensure the security of their vessels and cargoes”, he said.
Another challenge the terminal is facing is the sorry state of the common user road that leads to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Port Harcourt Area 1, which is their landlord.
“The port access road, which is the Industry Road, is too narrow. Sometimes if two trucks try to pass at the same time, they block the road. It is too narrow and not well maintained. The NPA need to do more to repair those common user roads”, he noted.
He also called on the government to create adequate space to keep their trucks, adding that unlike Lagos where proper arrangements were made on where to keep the trucks, here in Port Harcourt, all the trucks have to queue along the Industry Road or inside the port, blocking everywhere.
Mr. Lok also disclosed that irrespective of the above challenges and the recent lock-down occasioned by the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, the establishment recorded more achievements which include the acquisition of many cargo handling equipment and engagement of more skilled manpower among others.
He also noted that their relationship with the host community is very cordial and healthy pointing out that they not only extend employment opportunities to their youths but also give them welfare packages from time to time.
