Due to an increase in improved security in the Delta Ports area, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says over $45.2 million has been generated within January and June 2019.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum at the New Port in Warri, Delta State, the chairman of the NPA board of directors, Mr. Emmanuel Adesoye, stated that the rise in revenue when compared to 2018’s $35.39 million, a 28% increase, is also due to the dredging of the Escravos channel.
A brief provided to newsmen revealed that a $2,904,377 debt was recovered within the same period, leaving the total revenue collected at the sum of $48,150,644.17.
Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful situation around the Warri environment in the past two years, the chairman charged all stakeholders, including the leadership of the host communities to continue to work with security agencies to keep the peace.
He said: “My marching word is for them to continue to cooperate as they are doing. I am very impressed about the security situation here in Warri which is incredibly fantastic. I am really pleased because the last time we came, the leadership of this community did say that they are going to make sure that there are no vandalism, no issues of security concerns raised in this place. They’ve lived true to their words and I am really impressed.
“And that is why you can see the degree of improvement that has happened here. The number of ships that are coming have increased significantly and revenues have gone up,” he concluded.
The NPA chairman, while addressing journalists revealed that the essence of his visit was to assess the progress made by the port since November 2016.
Denying awareness of the disclosure made in the brief on the sales of five out of six of the Delta Ports terminals which were said to have been conceded at different dates to respective operators for a duration of 15 years for one, and 25 years each for the others.
According to the chairman, “that was something we just found out today. It is something that was contemplated, I think maybe there was an error. I don’t think it is an issue that I want to talk about without knowing the full facts.”
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