Ocean & Cargo formally takes over Warri Terminal

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L-R: Mr. Simeon Okeke, Port Manager, Delta Ports, Warri; Dr. Taiwo
Afolabi (MON), Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group; Dr. Sokonte Davies,
Executive Director, Marine & Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority; Ms. Aina
Egharevba, Director, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, and Mr. Adekunle
Oyinloye, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group during formal handing-over of
Terminal B, Warri Old Port to Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited in
Warri, Delta State

….NPA calls for host community support, BPE to monitor
for compliance

The
concessionaire of the Warri Port Terminal B, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services
Limited, has taken possession of the terminal after the formal handing over by
both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The
handing over was done by the Managing Director, NPA, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman,
who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr.
Sokonte Davies, and Director General, BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh.

At
the ceremony, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, while pledging the support of her agency
to the concessionaire, urged the host communities to cooperate with the company
in order for it to operate successfully at the port.

She
said: “It is our duty as NPA to achieve an efficient and profitable port
management in the country. We are delighted that another milestone is recorded
today with this hand over to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, the
winner of the competitive bidding process for the terminal.

“Be rest assured
that NPA will provide the necessary support to help you settle down and operate
successfully.

“Let
me also use this opportunity to appeal to the host communities to support this
company because the presence and smooth operations of this new business will
greatly impact the local economy around here.”

On
his own part, Mr. Alex Okoh described the bidding process that led to the
concession has been very transparent, adding that the best bidder eventually
emerged as the winner.

He further urged the concessionaire to abide by the
terms of the contract agreement while reiterating the stance of BPE to monitor
the company’s operations for strict agreement compliance.

He
said: “Port constitutes a strategic gateway to the country and the nation’s
economic prosperity depends to a large extent on how efficient the maritime
industry fares. That’s the major reason the industry has received a great
attention from this administration.

“We also recognized that port efficiency can
best be achieved with the private sector involvement. That’s why we are
delighted that this terminal will soon enjoy the level of efficiency that other
concessioned terminals across the country have been exposed to over the years.”

Mr.
Adekunle Oyinloye, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, the concessionaire’s
lead partner, promised that the company will deliver on the mandate of running
an efficient port that will be a pride of all Nigerians. He anchored his
confidence on the pedigree of the partners that has spanned over three decades
in the maritime industry.

He
pledged that areas like customer service, investment in human capital and
equipment as well as partnership with regulatory agencies and other
stakeholders will receive deserving attention by the company.

Dr.
Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, said the new
business will not only stimulate economic activities in the local communities,
but also contribute greatly to the country’s economic prosperity.