Consistent policy, infrastructure to drive devt of new ports, says Ports & Cargo
Worried by the need to find solutions to problems hindering the completion of laudable projects like new ports that are of immense economic benefit to the nation, Mohammed Bulangu, acting managing director of Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited (PCHSL), has identified consistent policy, infrastructural development and adequate security of invested fund as factors that would drive the completion of the projects.
Bulangu, who observed unstable government policies, lack of safety and security of funds invested by promoters, comfort of investors not guaranteed and non-provision of adequate measures to ensure continuity, lack of infrastructure, efficient transport system as the reason why seaport development in the country is foot dragging, advised the government to address the highlighted challenges for the country to take advantage of the on-going Greenfield seaport development.
Delivering a lecture titled: ‘Greenfield Development: Imperative for Port Development in Africa,’ at the African Day of Seas and Oceans hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos recently, the PCHSL boss said that there is an urgent need to find sustainable solutions to various impediments bedevilling the laudable projects.
“Looking at the port development projects Nigeria is embarking on- Greenfield ports at Lekki, the proposed port at Badagry, and also the Olokola port on the borders of Ogun and Ondo states, one important missing link is accessibility. On the completion of these ports, if some key and fundamental challenges are not addressed, serious environmental and economic issues will arise especially with the Lekki port,” he disclosed.
According to him, these challenges are surmountable if the government can guarantee safety and security of lives and investments put into the development of such projects, thus the need to deploy adequate security within the country’s territorial waters to check the activities of pirates and sea robbers.
“The government needs to provide a modern infrastructure; build integrated transportation system which includes good road network, efficient rail system and revitalised inland waterways for the movement of persons and goods. The government needs to provide attractive incentives for investors, including friendly tax policies and streamline operational procedures for smooth service delivery.”
He further noted that the continued increase in global sea-borne trade and deployment of large vessels to many routes for economies of scale operation, has pointed the need for new ports development with deep draft and large stacking areas for transhipment and transit cargo.
The new port development, he pointed needs to take into considerations a shift from its traditional roles as only destination of imports for the country and for its exports, but as hubs for connection and transshipment to other ports. “Greenfield port development within supply chain now comes with activities such as cargo/warehousing, sorting, packaging, ship repairs, fuelling, discharge and many more.”