Managing Director, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

The decision of the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, under Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director to embark on a massive overhaul of port infrastructure across the country’s seaport locations is beginning to yield good results, as the cargo volumes at the Warri and Koko Ports Complexes have recorded an upsurge, according to reports.

Details of operational statistics from the Delta Ports, which houses both complexes show that the port handles an average of 45 ships on a monthly basis, which has been described as unprecedented, a development experts believe is a reinforcement of shippers and shipping lines’ confidence in the ports, as good alternatives.

Other operational details also indicate a drastic reduction in the waiting time of vessels that call at the Delta Ports from the former time of 2.89 days to 1.99 days, which underscores the level of efficiency achieved in a very short time, thus boosting the confidence of the shippers and shipping lines alike.

 Records also show that the port handled a total of 293,013 metric tonnes of cargo, which in concrete terms accounts for over 10.7 per cent of Nigeria’s total trade volume, which experts have described as quite significant and very encouraging, given where the port is coming from.

“These figures are not mere dry abstractions. They are the heartbeat of a maritime ecosystem rediscovering its rhythm after years of underutilisation,” the NPA’s report stated.

The report further asserts: “This operational resurgence is the direct result of a concerted, multi-pronged investment strategy led by the NPA’s current executive management. The cornerstone of this effort was the dredging of the crucial Escravos Channel, which restored the navigational depth necessary for commercial confidence.

“Complementing this, the NPA commissioned the Escravos and Ramos Signal Stations, introducing a modern vessel traffic management system that provides world-class oversight and safety for the increased maritime traffic navigating the Delta’s complex waterways.

‘To directly address the concerns of ship owners and their insurers, the NPA acquired the marine security vessel SPB Likoro. This deployment has added a “visible, reassuring layer of protection, a critical factor in mitigating risk perceptions and attracting international shipping lines.

‘Underpinning this physical transformation is the successful implementation of the Landlord Port Model. The NPA maintains its role as regulator and infrastructure leader, while concessionaires like Associated Maritime Services and Integrated Logistics Services, the two concessionaires at the port drive terminal operations with private-sector efficiency and innovation.”

Experts believe that the resurgence of the Delta Ports coupled with the NPA’s efforts to also revamp the eastern ports corridor would give shippers and shipping lines even more alternatives and permanently address the congestion on the Lagos Ports corridor.