Oyetola commissions road project, boats to attract vessel traffic to Onne
By Seun Ibiyemi
As part of measures to further enhance the ease of doing business in the Onne port, the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has commissioned 4.8km Road “D” Project and also inaugurated six mooring boats at the Onne Complex in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
In his remarks, the Minister highlighted the commitment of the Ministry to leverage Nigeria’s maritime resources under the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “This road infrastructure constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the mooring boats we are gathered here to commission today, is another testament to the commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under my watch to maximise the entire gamut of opportunities conferred on us by our maritime endowments, in line with the directives of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.”
Oyetola reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the NPA, in addressing factors hindering the full utilisation of national port assets.
“Deepening the efficiencies and full capacity utilisation of the strategic advantages of Onne and other Port Complexes in the eastern axis constitutes one of the tools we are deploying in actualising the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) assigned to us under the Presidential Performance Bond.
”We are now poised more than ever before to give the NPA, all the backing necessary to address all factors responsible for the underutilisation of these national assets,” Oyetola maintained.
Acknowledging the growth in exports from the Onne Port Complex, the Minister expressed readiness to facilitate further expansion and advocacy efforts to attract more vessel traffic to the region.
Oyetola also underscored the significance of continued investment in port infrastructure, saying that the ministry was poised to ensure that the country’s ports compete favourably with others within and outside the African region.
The former Osun state governor while thanking all stakeholders for their support said, “As the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy presses forward, guided by the vision of President Tinubu, the commissioning of the Road “D” Project and mooring boats stands as a testament to Nigeria’s determination to harness its maritime potential for sustainable economic growth.”
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko in his remarks lauded the effort of Oyetola for his uncommon support which propelled the completion of the multiple projects being commissioned.
He said, “The Phase 4B houses a significant portion of the untapped potentials of the Onne Port Complex, thus the completion of the Road ‘D’ which the major arterial link to the new Berths 9, 10, 11 & 12 at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and vast expanse of reclaimed land already leased for port development is actually a link to growth in new business opportunities and increased revenue for the national economy.”
