Daily Independent (Lagos)
24 June 2009
Ever imagined Delta ports becoming the hub in Nigeria, where most Roll-on-Roll-off (RORO), and fertilizer vessels would berth instead of Lagos? Seems impossible? But port manager of Delta ports, Obumneme Onuenyenwa, think otherwise.
For Onuenyenwa, Delta ports comprising new and old Warri ports, Koko port, Sapele port, Burutu Port, Escravos, Forcados and many other private jetties, is supposed to be the hub and not Lagos.
According to him, the port is strategically located and Warri is at the centre of Nigeria's South West and is at equidistance between Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The port manager, who was addressing journalists in his Warri office, recently, noted that the port capacity is unlimited as it can expand to any limit because it does not have urban encroachment like Lagos ports.
Some features of Warri port, according to the port manager, include dual carriageway access road to the port, making it the only port that can be accessed without congestion on the road.
He also said that Koko port has a special location to the sea, saying that Koko is the future of Delta port.
He pointed out that most goods arriving Lagos are transported out of Lagos. "Since we are the centre, here should be the hub instead of going to Lagos and at the end of the day, the goods still end up here."
"There is no reason why fertilizer vessels should go to Lagos, northern bound cargo should come here, RoRo terminals in Lagos ought to be here because the market is in Benin and other surrounding cities," he said.
He, however, noted that the port is facing the challenge of dredging as the channel has not been dredged for more than 25 years.
The port manager explained that he has a vision to "make this port one of the best and biggest by making use of natural advantage that other ports do not have as well as location advantage others do not have.
He expressed optimism that in less than two years time, Warri port will be bigger than Onne port in Rivers State in terms of revenue.
This is because of the coming of Escravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) project, which is costing Nigeria and the consortium about $5.9 billion.
According to him, EGTL is the second biggest in the world and more than two times the capacity of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and also more than two times the capacity of Onne port. "Onne is biggest port in terms of revenue because of oil and gas. If EGTL commences in 18 months, we will be bigger than Onne in terms of revenue.
The port manager noted that the port was getting great support from Delta State government because the government understands the vital role the port plays in any economy.
The government has embarked on the dualisation of access road to the ports as well as major roads in Warri and environs.
The issue of security has been a major challenge in Delta ports. Cargoes that are supposed to come to Warri do not come because shipping companies lost confidence in the port due to security issues in the channel.
According to him, "We are confronting the security issue," saying that one way it is confronting the issue was by creating mutual understanding among the port authority, port users, community and government.
He said many members of the port community have been given jobs they have capacity to do. At end of the year, when the company does well, it will do community development, which would be in terms of capacity development, and other development programmes like provision of borehole and town hall.
He stated that the new confidence has been rebuilt in the port, noting that the community was helping to make sure the port is secure because they have a stake also. The presence of military personnel in the area has also been helpful.
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