10 years after it took over the management of Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port Complex, Port & Cargo Handling Terminal, a subsidiary of Sifax Group said it has invested millions dollars in upgrading its facilities and to acquire modern container handling equipment at the terminal.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference as part of activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the port concession in Nigeria, Managing Director of the terminal, Mallam Muhammed Bulangu said the terminal is a yardstick to measuring the port concession success in Nigeria.
He said since the terminal was concessioned to his company in 2006, efficiency has been increased in port operation as the once decayed terminal inherited from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had been transformed to a modern port.
He said notwithstanding the challenges the terminal faced in its 10 years of managing Terminal C, it had fully complied and surpassed its obligations regarding acquisition of plants and equipment.
“The major challenge was the problem of equipment. All the equipment that we bidded for had either being outrightly stolen or seriously vandalised. Thus we had to resorting to hiring equipment in the early days of the concession.
“But today we have fully complied with and even exceeded our obligations regarding acquisition of plants and equipment. For instance, we proposed to buy three ships to shore cranes but bought six.
“We proposed to buy six rubbers -tyred gantry cranes (RTGS) but bought 10. Other equipment acquired included 43 terminal tractors, 14 forklifts 23 reach stackers, heavy duty generating sets, tractors among others,” he said.
Bulangu also added that the terminal had increased its capacity from 5,000 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) to 16,000 TEUs adding that it has also constructed an ISPS compliant see through wire mesh fencing and gate houses to enhance security at the terminal.
He said as a result of improved security at the terminal, loss and vandalism of cargo through the activities of wharf rats has been reduced to the barest minimum while many high-powered generators have been provided to ensure 24 hours supply of electricity.
He added that the Nigerian Port Authority had also granted the terminal an extension of another five years of its concession agreement.
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