Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, the SIFAX Group-led consortium has assured the Federal Government and other stakeholders of its resolve to turn around the fortunes of the Terminal B, Warri Old Port through efficient service delivery.
Taiwo Afolabi, chairman of the consortium gave the assurance at the formal signing 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 last week.
Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited won the concession with a competitive bid of $100.78 million and the consortium is expected to run the terminal for 25 years. In April 2018, the company was announced the preferred bidder of the Port, out of the seven other companies that bided.
According to Afolabi, the combined experience of all the members of the consortium shows that the project would be another resounding success.
“This is 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 successfully in the last 12 years, the Terminal C of the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos. We will fall back on the experience and expertise we have developed over the years to make a difference at the Warri Port. We have started mobilising our team to hit the ground running and I assure that in no time, the fortunes of the Warri Port will change for the best,” Afolabi said.
Adekunle Oyinloye, group managing director of SIFAX Group, said that the company is known for its adherence to international best practices and compliance with agreed contracts.
Stating that the Consortium will set standards with the management of the new terminal, Oyinloye said that BPE, NPA and other relevant government agencies should look forward to an efficient port management system.
He said that clients would be given unparalleled customer-focused service delivery as the consortium has resolved to adhere strictly to the terms of the concession agreement.
Earlier, Alex Okoh, director-general of the BPE, noted that the objectives of the Federal Government in concessioning the port is to increase efficiency, improve service delivery, modernise 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.
He urged Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited to focus on these objectives as they take over the Warri 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 realisation of these objectives. I know for sure that the company has both the financial muscle and manpower to transform the terminal,” he added.
Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie
