Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Ports Authority has said that it was granting waivers on some charges, especially for export, in order to encourage more patronage and cargo traffic at the eastern ports.
The Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex, Mr Adamu Michael, who said this when a delegation of the Energy and Maritime Reporters Corps paid him a courtesy visit, assured that waivers await all stakeholders who would do business through the eastern ports.
Michael said the incentive was part of the steps outlined by the Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, to stimulate patronage of the eastern ports, adding that the waivers, will not only be granted by NPA but also by all other sister agencies operating at the port.
“The Managing Director of NPA in Port Harcourt, recently, stressed the need to encourage the eastern ports and he promised to grant waivers to certain charges that will encourage the patronage of the eastern ports.
“Most of the investors and stakeholders in the shipping industry prefer patronizing the western port especially Lagos port complex, Tincan, Kirikiri and so on.
“We are ready to grant to waivers to ensure that we encourage the patronage of the eastern port. And also encourage other sister agencies to grant such waivers to those who are ready to patronage the eastern port especially in export.”
The Port Manager who emphasised on the need for collaboration between the media and the port authority, harped on the importance of objective reportage that would promote patronage of the port and ease of doing business in the ports, especially the eastern ports of Onne, Warri, Calabar and Port Harcourt.
“We need your support and experience to ensure service delivery to our stakeholders. You’re part of the port system and we’ll ensure greater collaboration and relationship that will improve activities in the port.”
Earlier, the Chairman of EMR, Mr Martins Giadom, who congratulated the Port Manager on his deployment to Rivers Port, assured that the collaboration between the Authority and the specialized reporters corps would help the parties in better discharge of their duties.
Giadom explained that, as specialized beat reporters covering the energy and maritime industry, EMR was a communication asset to NPA and every other stakeholders in the sector, especially with regards to information on the ease of doing business in the eastern ports.
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