More Vessels Laden with Petroleum Products, Others Expected in Lagos

The lingering scarcity of petroleum products, which has resulted in long queues across the country may become a thing of the past as more vessels laden with petroleum products such as premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol, diesel, and kerosene have arrived in the nation’s seaports situated in Lagos.

Besides, other vessels laden with imported food items are being expected in Nigeria soon.

Data prepared by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and obtained by THISDAY indicated that no fewer than 36 ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other commodities were being expected to arrive at Lagos ports this month.

According to the data called Shipping Position, some of the 36 ships have started discharging their cargo at various terminals in the Lagos ports. The arrival of the vessels will continue till June 21, 2015.

A breakdown of the vessels showed that 17 of the expected ships would sail in with containers while the remaining 19 ships would arrive with kerosene, diesel, general cargo, fresh fish, bulk fertiliser, steel products and bulk wheat.

The data also revealed that eight other ships, laden with petrol, base oil and bulk rice had berth at the various terminal ports, waiting to discharge their contents, just as seven other vessels are in the ports discharging bulk wheat, crude palm oil, diesel, base oil and containers.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, NPA, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero has undertaken his first familiarisation tour of the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa during which he commended the foresight of successive management of the authority for embarking on projects that are of tremendous value to the operation of NPA.

Bayero specifically explained that the completion of the 1.6km access road has made accessibility within the Port less stressful and had tremendously made vehicle movement much easier.

Accompanied on the tour by top management officers of the authority, Bayero also inspected NPA facilities within the LPC for an on-the-spot assessment.

Bayero and his entourage also inspected completed works at the East and West moles breakwaters at the Atlas Cove, where he commended the quality of works considering the relevance of the breakwaters to the nation’s navigational safety.

The NPA helmsman was briefed by the erstwhile Port Manager, LPC, Alhaji Nasir Anas Mohammed and the Assistant General Manager (AGM), Harbours, Captain Jerome Angyunwe at the various locations during the tour.