The Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli flanked by members of Board and Management of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited during a visit to the traditional ruler in Warri, Delta State recently.

BY ABIMBOLA MATTHEW

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, has pledged to support the Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited as the company formally takes possession of the Warri Port Terminal B.

The paramount ruler of the Warri Kingdom made this pledge when the board and management team of the company paid him a courtesy visit in Warri, Delta State.

He also said that he was delighted at the concession of the terminal because that has been his desire since ascending the throne, adding that he has been mounting pressure on relevant government agencies and senior officials to do something urgently about the hitherto abandoned terminal.

He tasked the management of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited to bring their ingenuity and business acumen to bear so that the terminal becomes economically viable and a source of blessing to the Warri kingdom.  He also promised to lend fatherly assistance at all times to the concessionaire towards the success of its operations.

“I am very delighted with the coming of the company to Warri. It has always been my wish that the port is fully utilized. Warri is now ready for business and economic growth. The relative peace that the town had enjoyed in the last few years is a pointer to the readiness of all stakeholders to move Warri towards economic development and social integration. I want to urge the company to take advantage of the conducive environment to positively affect the host communities especially in the area of job creation”, he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, speaking earlier, solicited the cooperation and support of the monarch and the people, adding that the company was interested in collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in the industry and host community for the benefit of all concerned.

Recall that the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman in partnership with the Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprise BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh had penultimate week officially handed over the terminal to the company, with a charge to strictly adhere to the terms and conditions of the concession agreement.

This was sequel to the emergence of the consortium of port operators led by the SIFAX Group and made up of Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited as the preferred bidder for Terminal B, Warri Old Port with a competitive bid of $100.78 million, which grants it concession to run the terminal for 25 years.