Warri port is active, ready for investors - Julius Berger

Warri - The Julius Berger Services Nigeria, a subsidiary of Julius Berger Plc says the Warri Port has fully come on stream.

Mr Rayon Baldom, Julius Berger's representative in charge of Multipurpose Vessels disclosed this to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents' Chapel at the Warri Port.

This submission was contrary to the publics perception of the moribund facility.

The members of the Warri Correspondents' Chapel were on a facts-finding mission to the company's terminal situated at the Nigerian Ports Authority in Warri, Delta State.

While conducting newsmen round the Multipurpose Terminal otherwise known as Terminal C, Baldom said that the port was opened for investors.

"The Port is functioning, it is alive, vessels sail in freely, so investors are free to come and do business in the port.

"We received two vessels last week and it take about 48 hours to seamlessly clear a cargo.

"We are currently handling one vessel and we expecting more," he said.

Baldom said that beyond construction, the company also involved in Oil and Gas 
services.

He said that their clients from the Oil and Gas servicing companies use the Terminal C.

"We have our general cargo clients, oversized cargoes. We also rent out space.

"We have clients from Chevron, Containers Customs loading for our supervision of containers as well as transporting it to ports. 

"We get vessels depending on the clients, we received about two or three vessels in a month," he said.

Baldom said that the current crisis in the Middle East had significantly affected the volume of traffic in the port.

He also said that the exchange rate had consequential effects on the volume of trade 
in the port.

"Despite these challenges, the Warri port is functional and will keep better for investors," he said.

Also, Mr Olise Fidelis, the Head of Clearing at Julius Berger Terminal, said that there was adequate security for traders and investors to do their businesses at the port. 

"When you bring your goods, security is guaranteed. There is no black spot within our facility including the jetties, you will see everything. Not even a single pin will drop, so security is guaranteed.

"We have all the security agencies and their offices here including the Nigeria Customs Service.

"We are well equipped, our facility have everything you need in. a terminal. Talk about accidents, it is zero, we have safety professionals employed to handle that. 

Also, Mr Kubo Akpevwe said that the Julius Berger Terminal was big enough to serve clients.

"We are expecting traders and investors to come and do business here," he said.

Akpevwe said that the Nigeria Customs Services, Edo/Delta Command had been very supportive to the Delta Ports, especially to the Julius Berger Terminal over the years. 

He expressed the confidence that the Warri Correspondents' Chapel would help project the operations of the maritime outfit to the public.

"Many people do not know we exists let alone working. We want people to come to this port.

"Delta ports is a vantage point to the South-East and South-South. We want everybody to come and invest here in Warri Port," he said.

In same vein, Mr Inusa Zuberu, the Julius Berger Terminal Operations Manager, said that the Warri port was fully active and urged investors to patronize it.