Port Concession, a huge success, says terminal operator

Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited has described port concession in Nigeria as a great success.

The Acting Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Bulangu, said this at a press conference in Lagos to mark the 10th anniversary of the port concession programme.

He also said the firm had met and exceeded its obligations towards the development of the terminal under the port concession arrangement.

He said, “In 2006, the Federal Government gave the management of seaport terminals in the country to private investors after a competitive bid that involved some renowned port terminal management companies around the world.

“It is 10 years already since we took over the operations of Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port. The period has been eventful. The first few years were very tough and challenging but we took giant steps to improve on our operations by investing heavily in infrastructure and equipment.”

Bulangu noted that the coming on board of private investors had brought a great deal of improvement to service delivery, infrastructure development and modern equipment acquisition in the maritime industry.

He added that the myriad of challenges that the company faced at inception, such as obsolete equipment, long delay of vessels at berth, abandoned cargoes, unwholesome activities of ‘wharf rats’, who stole and vandalised cargoes, among others, had been frontally confronted, with incredible results to show 10 years down the line

He said, “We have met all the obligations and even exceeded obligations regarding the acquisition of plants and equipment. For instance, we proposed to buy three ship-to-shore cranes but bought seven. We proposed to buy six rubber-tyre gantries but bought 10. Other equipment acquired over the years include 43 terminal tractors, 14 forklifts,  23 reach stackers, heavy-duty generators and tractors.

“We also provided an imposing and befitting edifice for the Customs and other government regulatory agencies and we have a standard warehouse that can house about 8,200 metric tonnes of cargoes.”

The acting MD added that the terminal capacity had grown from 5,000 TEUs at inception to 16,000 while technology adoption through the terminal operation and tracking system, OSCAR, had enhanced service delivery efficiency.

The massive investment running into millions of dollars, according to Bulangu, has transformed the hitherto decayed terminal into a modern and information technology-driven seaport that is comparable to any terminal in the world.

“Our terminal is a good yardstick in measuring the success of the well-thought out port concession programme of the Federal Government because of the huge transformation and the great economic benefits to both the government and the industry,” he added.