Lorine Emenike
Following concerted efforts by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA to reposition the sector to create efficiency, in line with current global realities, the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, Dr Sokonte H. Davies, has promised to make the Ports more profitable and functional.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with newsmen over the weekend, Davies said NPA has commenced moves to develop deep seaports across the Eastern and Western regions to mitigate the breakdown of Port activities due to the huge sizes of vessels being manufactured.
He stressing that the global outlook when it comes to marine operations and shipping is the construction of bigger vessels that have the capacity to take 20,000 -30,000 TEU capacity threshold or more.
Reacting to alleged criticism resulting from the call by Lagos State Government for the construction of more Ports, he revealed that the call is in line with global trends.
He also reiterated that neighbouring countries are developing deep-sea Ports in Abidjan, Tema, Ivory Coast with drafts of 16, 17, 18 metres, to meet global standards and if nothing is done in this direction, Nigeria might be faced with a loss of revenue and a total collapse of the shipping sector.
Davis noted that the current state and operation of existing Ports will become obsolete in the next five or ten years, because the Ports at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri and Calabar are River Ports, have shallow drafts, especially the Calabar Port that has 4 metres draft during low tide and 4.5 metres at high tide.
Davies revealed that in addition to the 10% discount on shipping charges, NPA has commenced the development of Deep Sea Ports in Lekki, while the Dangote Port, which is almost complete is being considered for use as a Terminal, due to the high quality of the Port’s facility.
At the Eastern corridor, he stated that Deep Sea Ports will be constructed at Ibaka, Ibom, Bonny, to handle Port activities.
He said: “The development of Deep Sea Ports in Nigeria, will eliminate the challenges of channel arrangements and huge cost associated with port maintenance.
“But Essentially in Nigeria, what we have are River Ports, whether in Lagos, or Port Harcourt, or Onne, or Warri or Calabar”.
