The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is seeking about N50 billion in total for the refixing of dilapidated fenders and purchase of new patrol boats for the ports across the country.
Nairametrics understands that the change of the fenders at the ports is needed to help in enhancing the services as they are used as ‘bumper’ for ships to berth and prevent collision. Reports have it that the ships that call at the Lagos Port Complex ( LPC) experience prolonged waiting time to berth and delayed quick cargo clearance from the port because the fenders in most of the terminals are bad.
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According to a senior officer with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the fenders and boats were of utmost importance as it determines the service delivery of the seaports.
“Since ocean is the most cost-efficient transportation menas in the world, there are vessels of all sizes and kinds around the world that are calling at the Lagos Port Complex. From the use of fishing vessels, to bulk carriers, to container vessels, there are a lot of ship types on our waters that need reliable fenders to berth. NPA may need between N30 billion and N50billion to provide the modern fenders and purchase the patrol boats for adequate service delivery.
“As ships got bigger, the old timber and tyre structures used before just aren’t strong enough to absorb efficiently. We needed a better solution.
“That is why marine fenders were invented. The ones needed by NPA must be efficient, strong, and able to cope with the new ship designs to avoid unnecessary accident in our ports.”
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Speaking of the state of the ports, the General Manager of NPA, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Adams Jatto said that the NPA had initiated the plan to provide the fenders and the patrol boats to boost efficient service delivery to customers.
However, Jatti did not mention the cash to be spent as he only said the NPA needed huge cash to purchase at least the 4.5M Diameter Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders and patrol boats to position the Ports for greater efficiency.
