The Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Usman, on Thursday directed terminal operators to adhere to the 2006 port concession development plan and rehabilitate the decayed ones.
The managing director gave the directive in Lagos during her tour of the Western ports, which commenced on Wednesday.
No fewer than 26 terminals were concessioned to private operators in 2006.
At the Josepdam Port Services Limited, located in terminal ‘A’ of the Tin-Can Island Port, Usman frowned at the bad state of the facilities and directed the management of the terminal to keep to the concessional development plan.
Usman said: “At inception all parties agreed on maintenance and development plan of the facilities before the facilities were handed over to the operators.
“It will amount to distrust and a breach of contract to see facilities entrusted to operators decay.”
The Managing Director of Joepdam Port Services Limited, Simon Travers, promised that the company would comply with the approved guidelines in order to maintain its existing cordial relations with the NPA.
The entourage proceeded to the multi-purpose truck holding bay being constructed by the Federal Ministry Works and Housing.
Usman said NPA would support the project meant to reduce traffic on the ports access roads, adding that the holding bay should be completed without further delay.
She gave a directive that all illegal occupants should vacate the uncompleted park.
Usman said that the perennial traffic congestion along the ports access roads was caused by poor traffic management.
She also stated: “With a concerted traffic management which will involve the Lagos State and Federal Government agencies, the problem of transport congestion will be over.”
According to her, as a strategic road, there is need to fast-track the repair and regular maintenance of the port access roads to facilitate trade.
At the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, the managing director told the management of Royal Salt Limited to maintain environmental standard.
Usman said the Federal Government would evaluate the strategic importance of the fishing terminal at Kirikiri before a decision would be taken on its further development.
News reports indicate that Usman also visited the Ports and Terminal Multi-services Limited and asked operators to construct their own holding bays in order to reduce traffic.