By Lizzy Ikuru
Eleme – Dr. Emere Nkpornwi, King of Eleme Kingdom, has pledged the commitment of his kingdom in the actualisation of the industrialisation of Onne Port in Rivers State.
Nkpornwi made remark while receiving the new Ports Manager, Mr Alhassan Abubakar, and some officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Onne Port, who visited him at his palace.
A statement signed by Mrs Barbara Nchey-Achukwu, the Ports Public Affairs Officer in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said that the monarch described NPA as developers and agents of civilisation.
Nkpornwi assured the authority of continued cooperation of his domain towards providing an enabling environment for the Port to achieve a strong economic base.
He said that his administration was poised toward strengthening the longstanding relationship initiated by their forefathers who donated the virgin land for the establishment of NPA.
“We shall continue to uphold the relationship between our people and the NPA.
“Since our fathers donated the virgin land for the establishment of the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) in September 1980 and Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) in November 1974, we have had no regrets.
“NPA has served as developers and agents of civilisation to Onne kingdom and the country at large; therefore, we cannot afford to go against its positive policies.”
Nkpornwi assured the new manager that Onne people were peace-loving and urged his guests, NPA, Intels and other firms to see them as partners.
Earlier in his speech, the Port Manager thanked the monarch for his reception and said that NPA believed in community relationship wherever it operates.
He assured the king that the good relationship would continue under his tenure.
Abubakar also appealed to the monarch to support Onne Port, by alerting it on issues bothering on community relations to avoid any misunderstanding between the company and its host.