The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that the nation’s Cargo throughput in the first half of 2014 recorded an increase of 15.4 percent with 41, 317, 962 million metric tonnes as against 35,812,858 million metric tonnes it recorded over the corresponding period in 2013.
This was contained in the 1st Half 2014 report released by NPA on Tuesday as was signed by the Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, mr. Musa Iliya and made available to Primetime Reporters.
A breakdown of the Cargo throughput revealed that Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) shipment stood at 10, 418, 248 metric tonnes with a growth of 23 per cent over 8, 462, 535 metric tonnes recorded in the 1st half of 2013.
General Cargo was 5, 975, 098 metric tonnes, indicating an increase of 1.3 per cent over 5, 900, 817 metric tonnes recorded in the same period of 2013.
While dry bulk Cargo stood at 4, 841, 816 tonnes as against 4, 573, 322 metric tonnes achieved in 2013, showing a rise of 5.9 percent, refined petroleum products was up by 3.6 percent with 10, 189, 177 metric tonnes over the 2013 figure of 9, 835, 719 metric tonnes.
The report also indicated that Laden Container throughput was 509, 946 TEUs with a growth of 14 percent over 447, 388 TEUs recorded in the same period of 2013.
Empty Containers amounted to 364, 745 TEUs showing a growth of 14.2 percent over the 203 figure of 319, 467 TEUs.
Also, a total of 54, 846 Units of Vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 16.5 percent over the same period of 2013 which stood at 132, 930 units.
Ships and gross Tons were not left out as according to the report, a total of 2, 719 ocean going vessels called at all Nigerian ports showing an increase of 12 percent over the 2013 figure of 2, 427 vessels.
The total Gross registered Tonnage (GRT) of the vessels that called in the first half of 2014 was 70, 659, 820 metric tons indicating an increase of 17.5 percent over the corresponding period in 2013 which recorded 60, 096 metric tonnes.
According to the report,” in the period under review, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered Tonnage of 17, 367, 180 showing an increase of 7.2 percent over 16, 189, 825 gross tonnes achieved in 2013. A total of 727 vessels were handled in the period under review”.
“Tin can island Port recorded a gross registered tonnage of 23, 493, 612, indicating an increase of 0.1 percent over the 19, 666, 634 gross tones recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. A total number of 892 ocean going vessels were handled within the period”.
It also showed that a total of 228 ocean going vessels called within the period under review at the Rivers port Complex which recorded a gross registered tonnage of 3, 676, 757 with a 7.6 per cent growth over 3, 418, 309 tones recorded in 2013.
Whereas Onne Port Complex recorded a total of GRT of 19, 769, 896 reflecting an increase of 12.4 percent over 17, 586, 716 GRT recorded in the same period in 2013 with 425 vessels handled within the period, Calabar Port Complex recorded a GRT of 2, 011, 358 showing a rise of 50.3 percent over 1, 337, 475 gross registered tonnes of 2013, with 137 ocean going vessels handled in the period under review.
Delta Port Complex was not left out as it recorded 70, 659, 820 gross tonnes, showing an increase of 17.6 percent over the 2013 figure of 60, 096, 179 gross tonnes with 2,719 vessels calling at the port.
The report however showed that in the first half of 2014, the level of operational activities at the port locations witnessed positive variance over the corresponding period f 2013.
Iliya quoted the Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Adullahi as saying that the present management f the authority would continue to be focused and consistent in its efforts to achieve its vision f becoming the leading Port in Africa by rehabilitating port infrastructure, engaging in consistent dredging of the channels and implementation of sound financial policies like the E-payment solution among others.
”The success recorded so far in the operations at all Nigerian ports is traceable to the transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan which had provided the enabling environment for increased participation of both foreign and local investors in the part industry”, Abdullahi said.
