ICRC
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, April 10, 2018 (NAN) The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has pledged its support toward repositioning of the Lilypond Container Terminal in Apapa, Lagos, to become fully functional in order to boost agro-export in Nigeria.
Mr Chidi Izuwah, the acting Director-General of ICRC, made the pledge on Tuesday during his inspection visit to the facility.
The terminal, operated by AP Moller Finance Ltd., has been designated by the Federal Government as a multi-purpose agricultural export processing and distribution facility under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
Izuwah said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to diversify the Nigerian economy by focusing on agriculture and would continue to encourage private investors to the sector.
He said: “I want to assure you that the ICRC is keen on seeing that the Lilypond terminal is up and functional again as a multi-purpose agricultural export processing facility given the right business model.
“We are here today to evaluate the prospects and likely challenges the terminal may face in the near future and take proactive step toward tackling same.”
Izuwah noted that the Federal Government’s ports reform policy had yielded encouraging results and had further brought in efficiency in ports operation.
Responding, Mr Neil Mackin, the Head, Business Development, AP Moller, said that the terminal was hitherto used as an overflow facility for container handling.
Mackin said the company was aiming to establish a more sophisticated terminal that would be able to preserve perishable items including fruits, tomatoes,
beans and yams for distribution within the country and export purposes.
He said that when fully operational, the facility would increase employment in the transportation and farming sectors and alleviate poverty through farmers’ empowerment.
According to him, it will also lead to economy diversification, Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth as well as forex earnings through increased exports.
Meanwhile, the ICRC team also paid a courtesy visit to Mrs Hadiza Usman, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
In his remarks, Izuwah commended Usman for her efforts in restoring sanity, fair competition and building rewarding relationship with operators within the port.
He said that ICRC and NPA need to work together to periodically review PPP agreements in the sector in order to ensure what was best for the country.
Usman said that NPA would continue to engage the private investors in addressing some of its challenges and implementation of its ports reform programmes. (NAN)
ASO/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye