With the launch of two new Mobile Harbour Cranes worth $10 million and other investments, the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne Port, River State has become the new hub of economic activities in Nigeria and the gateway to major markets, writes Eromosele Abiodun


Following the suffering and cost incurred by importers, exporters and other stakeholders in the maritime sector as a result of the unending Lagos ports access roads gridlock, there have been calls for other ports in the country, especially the eastern ports to be activated to solve the congestion in Lagos.
But some players in the industry had argued that the investment required to get the eastern ports running is not readily available hence the continued suffering at the Lagos ports with delays and million lost to demurrages and other rates.
However, it has been a different story in the last one year at Onne Port in Rivers State as the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), one of the first green field container terminal to be built in Nigeria under public private partnership, has since set the ball rolling. WACT is located in Onne port (some 30km from Port-Harcourt) in Rivers State.

Described by importers as the best kept secret, the company has been successfully connecting East, North, West Central Nigeria and Rivers State to the world since its establishment a few years ago. This has been possible through top-quality services, cordial business relations with customers, regular interaction with stakeholders, human resource development, modern handling equipment and superior e-commerce capabilities.
As a result of this, vessel traffic has since hit the millions as traders and importers in the east no longer bring their goods through Lagos ports but rather go to the Onne port for easier access to their target market.

Some importers, told THISDAY has reduced their cost of doing business drastically, stressing that the facilities at the Onne port makes it possible for them to clear goods in few days unlike what obtains in Lagos where they spend weeks in traffic and pay all manners of fines and expense before they get their goods to its destination.
Over the last three years, the WACT terminal has seen significant increase in volumes resulting in its investment in various containers handling equipment such as five reach stackers, two empty handlers and 14 terminal trucks.
WACT, stakeholders said, has positively impacted trade and economic activity in Nigeria by increasing the competitiveness of the port. This makes the terminal attractive for shipping lines coming from all parts of the globe. THISDAY checks showed that vessels now sail directly from Asia (particularly China), America and Europe to Onne including vessels as large as 4000TEUs capacity. This has had a direct moderating impact on the cost of goods as compared to the position in the past.


The company achieved this as a result of the massive investment made in the areas of yard capacity, introduction of sophisticated cargo-handling equipments and electronic solution for invoicing and payments, thus reducing vessel- waiting time, dwell times and above all reducing the number of days for containers to arrive Nigerian markets from the origin of shipment.

WACT, which began commercial operations in 2007, and has proven to be one of the most customer-friendly ports in Nigeria and the most efficient gateway to most markets outside the greater Lagos area. The terminal has a capacity of 314,000 TEUs and 250 reefer plugs with a depth of 12 meters. The terminal is a one-stop shop business environment that houses shipping lines and government agencies within the terminal to reduce travel time for customers and increase the ease of doing business in WACT.

Increased Investment
WACT last week launched two new Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) worth $10million (N3.6 billion) for discharge of cargoes at the terminal.

The Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), which is coming on the heels of 10 new specialised terminal trucks and two new reach stackers were expected to increase the turnaround time of vessels at the terminal.

The two new container cargoes handling facilities would bring WACT at par with its peers in Apapa, and Tin Can Island Ports, in terms of equipment and operational efficiency.


Speaking on the MHCs, the Managing Director, WACT, Aamir Mirza said the massive investment at the terminal has attracted 700 direct and 2000 indirect employment in the country.

He said the company had recorded tremendous growth of 17 per cent in 2017, 21 per cent growth in 2018 and 20 per cent growth attained so far this year.

Mirza described the $10 million investment as a key enabler to customers’ satisfaction adding, “Our vision is to make WACT the best performing container terminal in West Africa. We believe this vision can be realised early enough if the government can support us to reduce the challenges of security by ensuring the safety of vessels on our waters, and improve road connectivity, among others.


“The WACT is determined to becoming the new hub of economic activities in Nigeria, being the gateway to major markets in Onitsha, Kano, Abuja, Nnewi, Enugu, Aba, Ogidi and Port Harcourt which will in turn boost the nation’s economy. Hence, our resolve to keep investing and increasing the competitiveness of the WACT so that larger ships can call the port directly and importers do not have to travel hundreds of thousands of miles to collect their goods when they can easily do that in Onne.”


Mirza said the cranes would enable volume growth resulting in increased productivity; reduced port stay and provide bunker savings; improve reliability in cargo delivery times; reduce the impact of crane breakdown/idle time on overall terminal operations; and increase customers satisfaction and speedy delivery.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, said the new cranes would aid efficiency and improve vessels turnaround time at the terminal. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to encourage more importers to patronise Onne Port, adding that government is determined to see shipping make significant contributions to the economy.


He said: “Our terminals need to grow and show efficiency. I am happy with the competition because this is how to compete. We need options, choice for shippers where they will discharge their cargoes. The commissioning of these Mobiles Harbour Cranes is no doubt significant because it will improve efficiency. We are happy with the 30 per cent increase in volumes of cargoes and in the long run, more Nigerians would be employed and it will make the terminal operation contribute to the economy.

Free Zone objects
“The more efficiency we have, the more cargoes we will get because Nigeria is a natural harbour due to the market that is available and I am happy today that this terminal is becoming one of the most efficient we have in West Africa and this is gladdening our hearts, and the main reasons of concessioning the port to private sector will be realised by this terminal and we will use this terminal to benchmark the performance of other terminals.”

The Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, lauded WACT for making the nation meet the objectives of establishing the free zone.

He promised to run the free zone in a professional manner and assured of provision of dedicated power to the zone for efficient service delivery.

He said: “For us, the fact that WACT is expanding their operation is a show of confidence they have in the economy and confidence they have in Nigeria and the MD said they have sent Nigerians out for training because this are very specialised equipment and as we know; the objectives of free zones is to attract foreign direct investments that will support job creation, support transfer of skills and technology and what government loses by tax revenues, government takes back in employment, skills and transfer of skills.”
On her part, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman lauded the company for acquiring the new cranes, even as she urged shippers to patronise Onne Port.

Bala-Usman, who was represented by the Onne Port Manager, Al-Hassan Ismaila, said the government was looking into the security of vessels on the nation’s high sea.

“The Onne Port is a nexus to connecting the North-East, North-central, South-south and South-east, so cargoes for this section of the country are expected to be discharged through this port. We are calling on shippers to patronize Onne Port because of the friendly environment, and the synergy between the agencies of government operating at the port,” she added.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/08/02/new-hub-of-economic-activities/

Described by importers as the best kept secret, the company has been successfully connecting East, North, West Central Nigeria and Rivers State to the world since its establishment a few years ago.

Lol at best kept secret. It Makes me think of unknown beach town normies dont flock to. You would think this would be known to businessmen in region since they talk to eachother.

Blue3k:


Lol at best kept secret.

I feel your pain, I know people from your region will not be happy reading this report

TundeBricklayer:

If feel your pains, I know people from your region will not be happy reading this report

Who's in pain clown. You're the only one surprised at the report. Its your clown patrol preaching eastern ports are dysfunctional or not open for business..

Blue3k:


Who's in pain clown. You're the only one surprised at the report. Its your clown patrol preaching eastern ports are dysfunctional or not open for business..

Monitoring spirit You have been monitoring eastern ports since, I could remember when you wrote large vessel can sail to Onne Port because of it shallowness according to you
Read this

THISDAY checks showed that vessels now sail directly from Asia (particularly China), America and Europe to Onne including vessels as large as 4000TEUs capacity. This has had a direct moderating impact on the cost of goods as compared to the position in the past.

TundeBricklayer:

Monitoring spirit You have been monitoring eastern ports since, I could remember when you wrote large vessel can sail to Onne Port because of it shallowness according to you
Read this

THISDAY checks showed that vessels now sail directly from Asia (particularly China), America and Europe to Onne including vessels as large as 4000TEUs capacity. This has had a direct moderating impact on the cost of goods as compared to the position in the past.

Your memory bad I said can take larger vessels because its actually deeper than alot of ports. I also said its one of busiest according to NPA stats. Tell another lie clown. It seem you and brothers are tired of preaching about how bad eastern ports now. Im glad yall have seen the light.

According to the report The WACT is determined to becoming the new hub of economic activities in Nigeria, being the gateway to major markets in Onitsha, Kano, Abuja, Nnewi, Enugu, Aba, Ogidi and Port Harcourt which will in turn boost the nation’s economy.


I'm clad Ogidi, home town of Chinue Achebe is taking her rightful position in Commerce, Ogidi now host of many markets including famous Ogidi international building material market in Anambra, the largest building materials market now is located in Ogidi, Ogidi international building materials feed many building materials markets in the East, middlebelt and North, my Aunty that built commercial house in Port Harcourt, I was surprised that she bought the building materials in Ogidi and transported them to PH.

Watch how the Nigeria's economic fulcrum will tilt all of a sudden

Ok

Good news

My people now have a port close to them... Hopefully they'll stop complaining.

One Igbo above said the economy will tilt
.
.
.
Lwkmd

Thank God.

Now the people that always complain about Lagos port being the only functioning port should as a matter of urgency patronize the Onne port and stop all the noise making.

kettykin:
Watch how the Nigeria's economic fulcrum will tilt all of a sudden

All of a sudden?
Is it a new port or what?

Blue3k:


Lol at best kept secret. It Makes me think they unknown beach town normies dont flock to. You would think this would be known to businessmen in region since they talk to eachother.

Hatred and bigotry has distorted your ability to think properly to the extent that you can't compose a coherent sentence anymore.

See my signature

R
]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

kettykin:
Watch how the Nigeria's economic fulcrum will tilt all of a sudden

Did they just built Onne port today?? Why hasn’t the economic fulcrum tilted all this while.

Seems it’s a curse to you guys to chestbeat over nothing like a village champion.

stefanbanach:
My people now have a port close to them... Hopefully they'll stop complaining.

Is it new or it has always been there but for some inexplicable reason, “your people” have preferred to use Lagos and complain anyhow.

Ports supposedly will give that area an economic boost if the Naija factor doesn't come in sooner or later.
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YorubaHero12:


Did they just built Onne port today?? Why hasn’t the economic fulcrum tilted all this while.

Seems it’s a curse to you guys to chestbeat over nothing like a village champion.

Why are you attacking the messenger and not the message , do you realise that this same Buhari refuces to rehabilitate the Onne Port when he was the Head of state in 1984 and rehabilitated only Lagos Ports

Amaechi best minister of transport ever.

seguno2:


All of a sudden?
Is it a new port or what?

The port was relegated and not maintained with other ports

Lagos State cannot afford to wait for the federal government to fix Apapa road. The state of the road would not make Lagos Port very competitive as Onne Port might attract more businesses.
At the end of the day, the state revenue might suffer.

kettykin:



Why are you attacking the messenger and not the message , do you realise that this same Buhari refuces to rehabilitate the Onne Port when he was the Head of state in 1984 and rehabilitated only Lagos Ports

You mean Buhari couldn't rehabilitate Onne port for the 17 months he was president?

What about the others after him?