NPA Flags off Construction of 4.5km Road in Onne Port

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has flagged off the construction of the 4.5km access road ‘D’ with streetlights and other complementary facilities at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne Port Complex to ease the movement of cargo in and out of the port to be delivered within 10 months.

NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who flagged off the construction in Onne on Friday during his maiden visit to the port, revealed that the road was part of the port expansion plan of phase 4B that was awarded to the Deep Offshore.

Bello-Koko explained that the cost of the project was part of the total port rehabilitation that was awarded long ago but was suspended due to some reasons.

According to him, “The road is the main artery into the Onne port, and we have witnessed a large increase in terms of cargo and other businesses. We felt it was time we asked the contractor to go back to the site. This will ease movement into the port. While we are complaining about the roads outside the port, which is outside our purview, we want to make sure that the roads in the port are in good condition”.

Bello-Koko had earlier commissioned three watercrafts including a pilot cutter, a patrol boat, and a security boat in accordance with the NPA mandate to provide marine side infrastructure to support port operation.

He maintained that the authority was doing these things to encourage businesses to move to the eastern ports in order to reduce congestion in Lagos ports and ensuring that the eastern ports become functional.

He lauded the West African Container Terminal (WACT), the largest container terminal operator at Onne port, for building an export processing facility at the port.

“The export terminal has the capacity to accept, arrange and bag export. It also containerises the cargo before sending the goods to the ship for export. It helps to reduce the cost and time wastage for exporters but it also ensures that products are exported fresh in line with the international best practices,” he added.

The NPA boss also said that the authority was working with the Nigerian Navy to improve security along the waterways.

He stated further that they are also working to fence all the open spaces at the port that is resulting to either attack on ships or enchantment to the port properties by communities.