P’Harcourt Port Facilities Collapsing over Old Age, Says NPA MD
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has raised alarm over the state of Port Harcourt port, saying the seaport is collapsing as a result of old age.
Usman said the seaport has approached the end of its lifespan, adding that the key facilities were currently in a state of dilapidation.
Speaking during the stakeholders meeting Monday, the NPA boss said the seaport quay walls were weak and at the point of collapse.
She said this was contained in a survey report after an inspection of the seaport by experts.
She told the stakeholders, “ “We have noted the fact that the quay walls along the Port Harcourt Port are weak and they are at the point of collapse. We instituted a conditional survey, which report was sent to us that the Port Harcourt Port has reached the end of its lifespan.”
Usman disclosed that the management will soon approach the Ministry of Transport and its board to approve “a full rehabilitation and reconstruction of the port in totality”.
Usman, Monday explained that health and security issues forced the authority to decommission terminal B in P’Harcourt, Rivers State, being operated by BUA Ports and Terminals Limited.
She disclosed that the terminal operator had even confirmed its fears about security when it sent a letter complaining that the terminal was unsafe.
The terminal operator had gone to court to protest the action of the NPA management.
Usman disclosed that the management received a contempt of court notice to the authority Monday.
But in her defence, Usman said NPA has not violated any court order based on its action to terminate the concession agreement and subsequent decommissioning of the terminal.
She explained that the terminal failed to comply with the port development plan as stated in the agreement, adding that the attention of the terminal operator had been drawn to this but it failed to take action.
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