NPA Revitalises Koko Port

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Omar Suleiman, has said the NPA is conducting hydrographic studies to determine the best way the channels leading to Koko Port in Delta State could be optimally utilised.

He made the disclosure at an occasion to mark three years of fire free construction works at the Escravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL) project and the revitalisation of the Warri Port by Chevron/NNPC joint venture in Warri.

Suleiman assured that the Gas revolution being pioneered by the EGTL project would pave way for the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which would surely unlock the potential and opportunities in Delta ports.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Ports Authority is collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other investors to turn Koko Port around.

“We are collaborating with NNPC and other investors to turn Koko Port around. We are conducting hydrographic and hydraulic studies to determine the best way the channels leading to the Delta ports could be optimally utilised,” said the NPA boss.

He said the authority is committed to making Nigerian Ports the hub and preferred destination for all cargoes for West and Central Africa sub-region by providing the required infrastructure in a safe, secure and customer friendly environment.

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said the dredging of the Escravos channel leading to Warri Port has been included in the 2012 budget to provide the needed support to attract merchant ships into Delta ports.

According to the minister, in spite of the fear expressed by skeptics, NNPC/Chevron with other stakeholders remain faithful and have provided jobs for thousands through this project. He expressed the hope that the EGTL project will provide the solution to gas flaring in the Delta region.

“Nigeria is an oil and gas country endowed with gas reserves, we must embrace modern technology and best practices to tap these resources” he said

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, while expressing his gratitude to all that contributed to the success of the EGTL project, noted that peaceful negotiations with host communities created the ideal atmosphere for the take off of the project.

He stressed that the town hall discussion strategy and the setting up of water way security committee which comprised the youths in the riverine areas performed the magic.

The EGTL Project Manager, Mick Kraly, said the project has actually turned around the fortune of Delta Ports going by the vessel traffic and cargo throughput which hit over 40 vessels traffic and 400,000 freight tonnage mark.

In his good will message ,the Chairman of Intels Ltd ,Mr George Volpi called on all companies ,importers ,exporters and indeed all stakeholders to return to the ancient town of warri “ so that we can jointly further improve the existing facilities in the port ,transfer technology and empower our people and create the much needed employment in the spirit of the local content development policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.