NPA Set to Dredge Escravos Channel Leading to Warri Port

In a bid to attract bigger vessels and encourage importers and exporters around the South-south and South -eastern part of the country to the Warri Port, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has concluded plans to dredge of Escravos channel leading to Warri Port.

The Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman gave this indication when she paid a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri,Ogiamen Ikenwoli II, in Warri, Delta State.

Speaking during the visit, she expressed appreciation to the monarch for persuading the federal government to approve the dredging of the channel and also facilitating the project.

Bala-Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sekonte Davies said the NPA was committed to creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

In his response, Ikenwoli said he was happy that there was hope for revival of the Warri Port which had been inactive for years.

He said: “I have two ports, Warri and Sapele ports and I am not happy that these ports are not working, but I am happy that now there is a ray of light. When the ports were working, there was a lot of progress and improvement in the living condition of our people.

“I was happy when the president approved the dredging of the ports. Lagos is currently suffocated with activities while other ports in the nation remain idle.

“Government has invested a lot of money and resources to establish these ports and I do not understand why they are left to waste while one port is drowning.”

He promised to assist the agency in every way possible to make the task of dredging the port successful.

Specifically, he stated: “I want to hear that ocean liners are coming to Warri to berth. If this happens, everybody here and beyond will calm down, restiveness will cease because people will be gainfully employed. People are restive because they are idle.”

In his welcome address during the Delta Port second quarter stakeholders’ forum, the Port Manager, Delta Port, Mr. Simon Okeke, remarked that Warri was the number three port in the nation until the challenge of the channel prevented bigger vessels from coming to berth.

He noted that the port had continued to witness enhanced and improved business environment since keying into the executive order of the federal government.

The port manager said:“We are proud and happy to acknowledge that Warri Port has never had it better than now. This is reflected in what this management has done to improve operational efficiency.”

He said tug boats had been provided for the port and contract awarded for the repairs of more tug boats.

He stated, “From all indications, these boats will be commissioned in August this year.”

In addition, he stated that the entire port was fully illuminated, documentation and payment processes had improved owing to e-payment and other facilities put in place by the management, thereby reducing human interface and blocking revenue leakage.