Determined to cope with the increasing volume of cargo at its terminal, the West African Container Terminal (WACT), Onne Port in Rivers State, has placed order for 10 new terminal trucks, two reach stackers and one empty container handler worth US$2.5 million, approximately N900 million.
Aamir Mirza, managing director of WACT, disclosed this on Friday during the commissioning of four new terminal trucks, acquired to enhance service delivery to its customers. Mirza said the increase in cargo volume at the terminal necessitated the need to up the number of the cargo handling equipment and truck fleet.
The four new trucks arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, having been flown in on one of the world’s largest cargo airplanes, the Antonov An-124.
According to Mirza, congestion on the roads to Apapa, Lagos has led to an increase in container volumes at Onne, as more customers find WACT attractive to handle their goods.
“The traffic situation at Apapa is one of the reasons for our unprecedented growth. In 2016 and 2017, WACT recorded a growth of about 17 percent. This is because of the stability of the naira and government’s encouragement of agricultural-based exports.
“In 2018, we ended up with a 22 percent growth as against our projections of 8 percent growth in container traffic. A sizable portion of this volume was due to traffic at Apapa, as more shippers divert their cargo to Onne,” he said.
Continuing, Mirza said: “The equipment we ordered were made to our specifications, based on the environment and weather conditions. Our equipment is not like cars that can be produced and kept in showrooms. It takes about four to six months for the equipment to be manufactured and shipped to us.”
He said the remaining six trucks and other equipment are expected to arrive in the terminal before April.
“Going by the growth of the Nigerian market, in about one and half years, our truck fleet will increase by 100 percent, reach stackers by 50 percent, and the empty handler fleet by 100 percent,” he added.
Michael Ebeatu, chapter chairman of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Free Zone, described the addition to the truck fleet as commendable, and will go a long way to help with the huge volume of containers coming here.
Godwin Onyekazi, president of the Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA), commended WACT for impacting on trade and economic activities in the South-East and South-South regions. He said WACT has enhanced the competitiveness of Onne Port and made the port more attractive for importers and shipping lines.
“Onne Port is about the only port outside Lagos that is really competitive and we commend WACT for ensuring that containers shipped through the port are handled professionally and delivered in good time,” he said.
WACT, which started commercial operations in 2007, is reputed to be one of the most customer friendly port facilities in Nigeria. With a capacity of 314,000 TEUs, 325 reefer plugs and berths with depth of up to 12 meters, it is the most efficient gateway to most markets outside the Lagos area.
In 2016, WACT was named Nigeria’s Best Container Handling and Port Development Company at the African Governance and Corporate Leadership Award organised by the Institute for Government, Research, Leadership and Technology, Abuja. The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA) also named WACT the winner of its Corporate Distinguished Service Award in 2015.
Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie
