Cargo handling equipment at Port Harcourt Airport underutilized

The cargo handling equipment at Port Harcourt International Airport have become moribund because of underutilization by operators.

General Manager of the airport, Mrs Ezike Ifesinachi, was said to have stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.

Mrs. Ezike Ifesinachi said the cargo equipment are of the state of the art capable of handling topnotch freights.

“Facilities here are topnotch to handle all cargo operations; we have the manpower and state of the art terminal building.

“We have all it takes to handle large volume of freight or cargo operations, yet, these equipment are underutilised due to some lingering operational hitches,” said Ifesinachi who is also the Regional Manager, South South Zone of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The General Manager said she had lodged a complain to the House of Representatives Committee on Customs when its members visited the airport a few weeks ago.

“I complained about ‘freight differentials’ and the chairman of the committee, Mr Leke Abejide promised to address our concerns.

“At that level, I am sure something will be done to tackle the issue of ‘freight differentials’ and other encumbrances militating against cargo operations at Port Harcourt Airport,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Charles Onyema, Port Harcourt International Airport Chapter Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), attributed the low cargo operations to the absence of political will among leaders of the South South and South East geopolitical zones and called for more collaborations.

Onyema said that such collaboration would help in addressing the menace and also boost revenue for the region.

“Our leaders have refused to draw attention of relevant authorities to help tackle encumbrances militating against smooth cargo operations.

“This silence is unhealthy for the economic wellbeing of the regions. Kano Airport once suffered same fate, until the governor and political leaders voiced out their displeasure and solicited for increased cargo operations. Today, Kano Airport is doing better,” he said

Additional report by Shipping Position