During a press conference to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Tin Can Island, Port concession in Nigeria yesterday, the Managing Director of the Sifax Group, Port and Cargo Handling terminal, Mallam Muhammad Bulangu said it has invested millions of dollars in upgrading its facilities and to also acquire modern container handling equipment at the terminal. He also noted that the terminal is a yardstick for measuring the port concession success in Nigeria.
He said since the terminal was concessioned to his company in 2006, productivity has been increased in port operation as the once decayed terminal inherited from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had been transformed into a modern port. He also said that the terminal 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 bid for had either been outrightly stolen or seriously vandalized. Thus we had to resort 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 added that the Nigerian Port Authority had also granted the terminal an extension of another five years of its concession agreement.
