9th August, 2010
The Area Controller in charge of Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Ahmade Jamo, has pledged to bring back the lost glory of the premier port.
This, he promised to achieve through the joint efforts of other agencies that are of the same vision with him in the port.
The command has been faced with a lot of challenges which have drastically affected the level of revenue generation but all hope is not lost as the controller and other officers have vowed to see that the port regained its lost glory.
According to Jamo, the premier port is yet to harbour cargo in its premises since 2005 that militancy started in the area and up till now, no single cargo is found there and this makes it to look as if it is no longer a port, adding that importers stopped to patronise the port because there was no security, while harassment from militants also posed a threat to them.
The only trade that thrives there, according to the controller, are bitumen, rice, cement, wheat, fish and other petroleum products which don’t attract duty, but promised to out it in proper shape as it is going to be concessioned into the hands of professionals, who are ready to transform it.
—Esther Komolafe