Posted on May 18, 2022
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated its reading to revamp Ports in Delta State by embarking on dredging of channels and rivers in the State
Managing Director of the Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who disclosed this in Warri, Delta State, when he paid a visit to Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, said the dredging of the channel would help to expand the channel and enable bigger vessels to visit the port in the State.
The dredging, he said, has started and is about halfway done
Bello-Koko said, when completed, it will enable ports in Delta State to have a better draft, receive bigger vessels and record less incidences of vessels running aground.
“We all know that the breakwaters collapsed about 10 years ago, and there has been high siltation resulting in reduction of the draft from seven meters to three meters in some places,” Bello-Koko said.
He told the monarch that NPA has also started the mapping and charting of the Escravos channel, starting from the fairway buoy down to Koko Port, which has not been done for over a decade or more.
“The essence is to enable us to be able to know the draft along the way and also ensure that the navigational aids are properly placed.
“This is because there are some decisions that can only be taken after knowing that the channel has been properly mapped and surveyed,” he said.
He further said the efforts put together means that the NPA is beginning to pay attention to the ports outside Lagos.
“We have a special interest in ensuring that Warri and other ports in Eastern areas are more active. This is why we have been holding stakeholders meetings and we are going to Port Harcourt for another one.
This enables us to engage with the importers and exporters for them to know that these ports are available for use
“We will deploy more marine equipment and ensure that the signals are also working to ensure safe navigation of vessels”, he added.
Earlier, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, noted the importance of the Eastern ports and the need to be opened up after several pushes by different governments in the past, adding that the recent efforts will yield positive results for the benefit of the importing community.
While saying that the Niger Delta people want the port to work, the Warri monarch said that port generally drives the economy of the cities where they are located.
He stated further that the NPA can always come to the royal family for support to achieve the goal of opening up Warri Port for business.
