The collapsing quay aprons and huge gullies at Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) are prioritized at the top items on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Infrastructural Renewal Agenda.
NPA Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, revealed this while speaking at a breakfast meeting organized by Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on the deplorable state of port infrastructure, today.
Speaking at the summit themed: “Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions,” the NPA boss confirmed that the infrastructure deficts at Tin Can has been a seriously deliberated issue at the Authority.
Bello-Koko, who was represented by the General Manager, NPA Managing Director’s office, Mr. Ayodele Durowaiye, stated that the Authority is exploring numerous funding alternatives to address port infrastructural challenges, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
In his keynote address, the NPA Managing Director observed that Tin Can and Apapa ports account for over 60 percent of the nation’s cargo traffic annually, even as he expressed regret that the TCIP port facility has been overstretched since it was established in 1977.
“The problem of collapsed quay aprons at Tin Can Island Port is top on the NPA Infrastructural Renewal Agenda of the Authority as the port has been operating far above its as-built capacity for decades,” the NPA boss said.
Underlining the essence of the conference, the President, MARAN, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere asserted that the nation is bound to record revenue shortfalls as a result of the rapidly deteriorating port infrastructure.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Head of Research, Sea Empowerment Research Centre, Dr. Eugene Nweke opined that the current state of the nation’s port should necessitate an urgent declaration of state of emergency with collapsed quay aprons and other flaws at seaports.
Nweke described seaports as vital components in global shipping business and maintained that they be carefully managed as the physical interchange or middle grounds for the trading community.
Also speaking, the President-General of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Prince Adewale Adeyanju revealed that the union was considering the option of withdrawing its services from Tin Can Island Port over deplorable port infrastructure.
On his part, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barr. Temisan Omatseye opined that utilizating of river ports and barge operations will significantly reduce the traffic and pressure at Lagos ports.
According to Omatseye, an erroneous perception of insecurity at Eastern ports make Nigerian shippers prefer Lagos ports; while threats of War Risk Insurance Premiums also makes shipping lines dread Eastern ports.
While corroborating Omatseye’s views on barging as alternative for cargo evacuation, the President of Barge Operations Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Hon. Olubunmi Olumekun asserted that the N50million bank guarantee for licensing barge operators poses a huge challenge.
Olumekun equally lamented that barge operators pay charges to NPA in dollars whereas they receive their income in naira.
Speaking on the issue of dollar charges, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime opined that barge operators should pay their charges to regulators in naira.
Jime, who presided over the inauguration of MARAN executives, even as he encouraged BOAN to make an official complaint to NSC on the issue of dollar payments.
Some other dignitaries at the event were; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigeria Shipowners’ Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo; Chief Executive, Kamany Marine Services Limited, Mr. Charles Okorefe; former President of MARAN, Elder Asu Beks; Publisher of MMS Plus newspaper, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke; among others.
