Business
PTOL Woos Importers To PH Port
As part of efforts to a raise the interest of importer s towards patronizing the Port Harcourt Port, as well as showcase its potential in delivery of cargo, the Ports and Termind Operators Limited (PTOL) organised a dinner/Interactive forum for importers/exporters in Port Harcourt.
In her speech at the occasion, the Managing Director of PTOL, Mrs. L. Obvude said the dinner is the first attempt made by the company to gather importers, since it started operations, in 2006 in Port Harcourt, and that it will continuously be sustained.
She pointed out that most people are not aware tht Port Harcourt Port has come back to life noting that her company will hopefully go fully into container cargo operations next year.
The PTOL chief executive explained that activities and business operations at terminal ‘A’ of the port, which is being operated by PTOL have came back to life and that there is a large space in terminal ‘A’.
She asserted that various infrastructures and projects that has been carried out by PTOL towards re-opening container cargo operations, includes the container stacking area which can receive about 6,000 boxes and the now fenders which has made the quarry aprons in the terminal unique saying that terminal ‘A’ is the first top have such modem fenders.
On security, the MD said that the port has greatly improved, adding that the perimeter fencing is there, as well as the police, and that containers are safe.
She said “we operate 24 hours service because we want quick turn around. Rather than going to Lagos, all you need your clearing is available in Port Harcourt. Our tariff is low because government has given us a carting and we can not go beyond. We promise to handle your cargoes effectively and efficiendly.”
Mrs Obvude however pointed out that PTOL is also worried, just as the NPA on the state of the Industry road, but promised that the state government will attend to the matter gery soon, and assured imparters of the PTOL’s capability to handle every type of cargo, even as they have acquired the State of the art cargo handlers.
Signatories that grace the occasion are the chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) eastern ports, Chief Emenike Wokogi, the DPO in-charge of Port Harcourt port police, the PTOL chairman, Chief Dennis Okafor and Mr. Dele Alabi, the Port Harcourt port manager, among other.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
King Onunwor