In the 3rd quarter ended in September, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) an increase in the cargo throughput handled at the Nigerian ports compared to the same period in the previous year.
This was contained in the release sent to MMS Plus Weekly last week by the Corporate Affairs department of the Authority.
According to the report, the cargo throughput handled at the Nigerian Ports stood at 22,324,223 million metric tonnes, showing an increase of 12.5 per cent over 19,849,258 metric tonnes achieved in 2013.
The breakdown of cargo throughput shows the followings; General Cargo was 4,218,379, metric tons, an increase of 41.7% over 2,977,347 metric tons in 2013; dry Bulk Cargo stood at 2,600,222 metric tons, a marginal increase of 0.6% over 2,585,902 metric tons in 2013; Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment stood at 5,140,321 metric tons, a growth of 5.8% over 4,859,453 metric tons in 2013.
Others are: Refined Petroleum products stood at 5, 241,813 metric tons, indicating an increase of 9.1% over 4,804,184 metric tons in 2013; Laden Container Throughput was 277,694 TEUs, showing a growth of 3% over 269,625 TEUs achieved in 2013 and Empty Container Throughput was 217,080 TEUs, indicating an increase of 9.5% over 198,167 TEUs in 2013.
The report also said that in the third quarter of 2014, a total of 1,405 oceans going vessels called at all Nigerian Ports as against a total of 1,366 vessels that called at the same period in 2013 representing an increase of 2.9%
In the same period, the total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of all ocean going vessels in the third quarter 2014 amounted to 38,047,705metric tons representing an increase of 9.8% increase over the GRT of 34,640,530 Metric tons inthe same period of 2013.
In the period under review, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 10,105,002Metric tons, showing an increase of 9.0 per cent over 9,263,180 gross tons achieved in 2013. A total of 397vessels were handled in the period under review.
Tin can Island Port recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 13,076,324 indicating an increase of 16.8 per cent over 11,197,355 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. A total number of 475 ocean going vessels were handled within the period.
Calabar Port complex recorded a total GRT of 1,053,435 showing a rise of 40 per cent over 751,553 gross tons of 2013, leaving the port with 72Ocean going vessels in the period under review.
Rivers Port complex recorded a total Gross registered tonnage of 1,890,944 showing an increase of 37.8 per cent over 1,371,846 gross tons achieved in the corresponding period of 2013. A total of 126 ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review.
Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 10,396,120 reflecting an increase of 7.0 per cent over 9,709,984 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2013 with 207 vessels handled within the period while Delta Port Complex handled 128 vessels.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director (MD) of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi has said that the continuous growth experienced in our ports is a reflection of its efforts anchored on the need to deliver an efficient port service in a safe, secure and customer-friendly environment, in accordance with the international best practises.
According to him, Management has continued to pay attention improving existing port infrastructures in the areas of rehabilitation of port quay walls and aprons, and deepening of channels as well as upgrading and renovation of our common user facilities, wrecks removal from channels and other necessary engineering and marine works to ensure the efficiency of service delivery and meeting the expectation of stakeholders both foreign and local.
