BY MRS. BARBARA EJEMEH NCHEY- ACHUKWU CHIEF PORT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER RIVERS PORT COMPLEX, PORT HARCOURT
The Rivers Port since inception has come of age. Concessionalized by the colonial masters, the port was the second oldest port in Nigeria next to Apapa Port. Rivers Port is located in the gulf of Guinea. It is strategically positioned, which helps to enhance quick realization of government core economic objective and aspirations through reduction of distribution cost.
The economic activities in the Eastern part of the country started with the discovery of coal in commercial quantity in Enugu, South East of Nigeria. This necessitated the exportation of the mineral resources and thus paving way to the establishment of the sea port, in Port Harcourt. From records, the Port was concessioned in 1913 by the then Governor General of Nigeria Sir Lord Frederick Lugard.
By1913 to 2013, the road map of attainment of centenary age has been a long, tortuous one, but a road the drivers have shown commitment and hardwork to see to its success.
WHAT IS THE ROAD MAP FOR ATTAINMENT OF CENTENARY AGE IN RIVERS PORT?
There are other set of ports that were built within the frame work of third national economic development plan of 1975 through 1980. For example, Sapele, Warri New Port, Tincan Port, Calabar Ports and Rivers Port Complex. These ports were unique in so many ramifications. They were multi-purpose port with greater inclination in the handling of break bulk cargo, liquid bulk, refined petroleum, oil tank farms and factories.
Rivers Port in the last 100 years of operation has continued to operate ship and cargo operations with its catchment areas being the North East, South East and South South . In 1926, the port was provided with wharfage and berthing facilities to cope with domestic trade along the Niger Delta coast line and other parts of the country. During and after the world war of 1939 and 1945 foreign trade standard with patronage from America and Europe
With subsequent expansion brought about by first National Development Plan of 1962-1968; and Post Nigerian Civil War of 1970-1974, national economic development blue print, the berths were increased to eight (8).
Rivers Port is a natural Port that has been an access channel at the Bonny Rivers approximately 48km (52 Nautical Miles) from the Fairway Buoy to the wharf area. The Port is made up of Port Harcourt Hard quays with total quay length of 1,290metres, which could accommodate vessels within the range of 110 to 195metres in Length Over All (LOA) Rivers Port has two Terminal Operators as beneficiaries of Federal Government concession arrangement. Berth 1-4 is designated as Terminal A with total quay length of 660metres, operated by Messrs Port and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited (PTOL), while berths 5-8 is designated as Terminal B, having a total quay length of 630meters manned by Messrs BUA Ports ad Terminal.
The Port composite nature encouraged it to administer forty seven (47) jetties within close proximity and far flung locations. Some of them are Ibeto Jetty, Okrika Petroleum, Delmar, Master Energy, Akerbase and Bitumen etc.
The Port also has some oil terminals that play vital role in supporting the oil revenue of the economy. The crude oil terminal under the jurisdiction of the port includes Brass, Bonny Off-shore, Okono, Okoro. EA Off-shore, Ima, Okwori, Obe, Bonga etc. Thus based on the joint venture between Nigerian Ports Authority and the Bonny Channels Company (BCC), the channel from Bonny to the Port is vigorously being dredged to accommodate large ocean-going-vessels. The current draught of the Port Channels has impressively risen from 5m to 8.5metres; a situation that suggests that port facilities is growing at over 80% rate.
The Port apart from serving the need of maritime related firms and other companies in the Southern part of Nigeria also serves vital economic role as a transit route to reach land locked countries in parts of Chad Republic and other Northern states of the country.
Today, it is a thing of pride that the Port is the major gateway to prominent companies like Floor Mill, Patterson Zochonis (PZ) and others where through conveyor belts, their silos become handy for the discharge of wheat for Flour Mills consumption, and other bulk cargo. Rivers Port, the sobriquet of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Port Harcourt is also equipped with 16 tank farms of 3, 048 tons capacity for bulk oil installation. This operation has a conveyor belt and a pier holding the structure, while there are also 7 transits sheds storage of 26,337.15 square meters capacity; 7 stacking areas of 27,407.15 square meters size and four (4) Arcon sheds with storage capacity of 12,486.15 square meters. In the Rivers Port dockyard, there are also four (4) units to carry out electrical, marine engineering and construction works respectively. There is also African Circle Pollution Management facility at the Dockyard.
Rivers Port is also receiving massive facelift along side a high volume of activities. It has undergone reconstruction of its terminals, constructed stacking areas, and designed terminals that handle general cargo and containers.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RIVERS PORT:
In our attempt to unmask all the road map of Rivers Port for its attainment of 100years of age, it is important to identify some critical functions that has made the port tick, and which continue to attract patronage. The Port with two (2) of its terminal operators are directly involved in handling of bulk vessels including fish, rice and cement cargo. The Port as stated earlier handles the liquid bulk (petroleum produce), including imported refined petroleum products, operating ship factory, oil tank farms etc.
Leadership between 1972 to 2013, The Rivers Port has witnessed about 14 Port Managers. My Funso Agoro was the Port Manager between 1972 to 1979, Chief Okon Abia Bassey took over between 1979-1983, while Chief G. O. Adeagbo was in charge between 1983 to 1985. Among others who had served Rivers Port as Port Managers include Mr. Steve I. Mgbakogu (1985-1987), Alhaji Isa Babamkpa (1999-2000), Mr. Anya O. Anya 2000-2002.
Mr. Jet Sugh served as Port Manager between 2002-2003, while Dr B. A. Ahmed was Port Manager between 2003-2004. Mr. Sam A. Ukoha was in charge of Rivers Port from 2004 to 2006, while Mr. A. A. Goje holds serving between 2006 to 2007, thus heralding the emergence of Mr. L. O Alabi who served as Port Manager between 2007 to 2012. However, Mr. Alabi’s tenure according to analysis made tremendous impact, which repositioned Rivers Port as a Port of choice.
Alabi’s credible performance also set the pace for the first female Port Manager of Rivers Port Mrs. Carolyn Akum Ufere to emerge. However, there is no doubt that the emergence of the first woman Port Manager of Rivers Port is bringing gender balance to the Port leadership after a Century (100 years)
Already the tone for celebrating the centenary age of the Rivers Port is under way under Mrs. Ufere, and it is hoped that the motherly touch by the first female Port Manager, Ufere will give the Master strokes that will take the port to another height in the years ahead.
However, all aspects of growth have been witnessed by the port in the last 100 years. The port growth is a continuous process, there is a need for support and encouragement by all-employees, government and their agents, importers and indeed the general Nigeria public as the port builds another foundation for the next 100 years ahead.
