The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had confirmed the actual state of things with Calabar channel, noting that there is currently an ongoing administrative inquiry instituted, with the change of baton.
The Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi said even as he assured that the presently observed gridlock around the ports areas may soon disappear, as management was already working seriously towards a nationwide linkage of ports, with rail lines, so as to permanently de-congest the ports.
Affirming that there was indeed a joint venture agreement between the NPA and another consortium to form the Calabar Channel Company (CCC), the Managing Director said there was actually a ground breaking last year, in respect of the CCC.
“There is presently an administrative enquiry”, Abdullahi who was represented by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Capt Iheanacho Ebubeogu at the Rockview Hotel, noting that the enquiry was however a very normal process, in view of a change in baton, at the Federal level,.
Mallam Abdullahi highlighted the management had already improved on the rail tracks in both Lagos and Port Harcourt ports, even as genuine brainstorming was ongoing, towards linking Tin Can Island port also, with rail, adding that a consultant was already studying the possibility of effecting the linkage between Apapa and Tin Can port.
On a happy note, he expressed the satisfaction that studies had affirmed a high possibility of establishing the linkage, as well as the cost benefit of the vision; stressing that NPA would not shirk its responsibility of ensuring a functional port system, in view of its position as a technical regulator.
He however noted the necessity of both the bonded terminal operators and the terminal operators to become more dynamic and proactive, in their overall marketing and handling of cargo, especially in the need to acquire modern cargo handling equipment to facilitate easy handling of all types of vessels, including bigger ocean going vessels that call at the ports.
“Except the terminal operators deploy the right cargo handling equipment for every vessel, they will not be able to take all vessels that call at the port; and even if they do, the performance won’t be perfect”, he said, noting that modern handling equipment ensure cargo handling faster, and more efficiently.
He however assured that the authority would leave no stones unturned to guarantee deeper depth of channels in view of the increasing trading of bigger vessels, now calling at the ports.