Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The SIFAX
Group-led consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, has
assured the Federal Government and other stakeholders that it would
turn around the fortunes of the Terminal B, Warri Old Port before
long.
This
assurance was given by the consortium’s Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi
(MON), at the formal signing ceremony and handing over of Terminal B,
Warri Old Port to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited by the
Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) in Abuja.
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| Chairman Sifax led Consortium, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi |
Ocean and
Cargo Terminal Services Limited won the concession with a competitive
bid of $100.78 million and would run the terminal for twenty five
years. In April 2018, the company was announced the preferred bidder
of the Warri Old Port, out of the seven other companies whose bids
were evaluated.
The company
also recently signed a contract with the Gambian government to
operate an inland container depot in Banjul, the country’s state
capital.
Afolabi said
the combined industry and business experience and pedigree of all the
members of the consortium gave him the confidence that the project
would be another resounding success.
He further
expressed his appreciation to the Bureau of Public Enterprises and
the Nigerian Ports Authority for the transparent manner that the
process was conducted, right from the beginning.
He said:
“This is a great news for us as a company to have led this
consortium to win the concessioning of the terminal. While we are
glad that we have emerged the concessionaire of the Warri Terminal,
we are not unaware of the enormous responsibility this success has
conferred on us.
“However,
it is a familiar territory for us having operated the Terminal C at
the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, successfully in the last 12 years. We
will fall back on the experience and expertise we have developed
running the terminal to make a difference at the Warri Port. We have
already begun mobilizing our team to hit the ground running as soon
as possible. I want to assure that in no time, the fortunes of the
Warri Port will change for the best.”
On his own
part, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group,
pledged that the company, noted for its adherence to international
best practices and compliance with agreed convenants, will set new
standards with the management of the new terminal.
He said:
“BPE, NPA and other relevant government agencies should look
forward to an efficient port management system when we formally take
over the control of the terminal while the clients are in for an
unparalleled customer-focused service delivery that will put them at
the heart of our operations. We will also adhere strictly to the
terms of the concession agreement too.”
Earlier in
his speech, Alex Okoh, BPE Director-General, noted that the
objectives of the Federal Government in concessioning the port is to
increase efficiency, improve service delivery, modernize port
development, reduce the cost of shipping and clearing of goods at the
ports and relieve the government of the burden of financing the
sector, while urging Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited to
focus on these objectives as they take over the terminal.
“Government
expects nothing less than strict adherence to the terms of the
concession agreement. Consequently, the pursuit of your business
objectives must be tailored in a way that will also assist in the
realization of these objectives. I know for sure that the company has
both the financial muscle and capable manpower to make the terminal a
beauty to behold”, he noted.
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