The federal government has given Chevron Nigeria Limited two weeks ultimatum to register Stevedore Services assigned by the government to oversee the Warri Jetty.
It, however, warned that it would shutdown Chevron operations at the Warri Jetty if it fails to comply with the directive within two weeks.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation Dr. Magdalene Ajani disclosed this at a meeting between Chevron Nigeria Limited, Bena-Franco, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the National Inland Waterways (NIWA) at the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said the two-week ultimatum given became imperative following overt disregard by Chevron to hinder stevedore services regardless of extant laws and standard procedures.
Ajani stated that the ministry of Transportation has the mandate to guide activities going on in the maritime sector and will act accordingly to protect that at all times.
She informed representatives of Chevron that the Nigerian Ports Authority as the master stevedore has assigned a stevedore company in the last two years to the Warri jetty and have been denied access by Chevron despite all efforts by NPA.
The Permanent Secretary in a statement issued Wednesday by the Director of Press, Henshaw Ogubike, stated that Chevron also have avoided all meetings by the ministry and National Stevedore association to resolve this matter.
She advised that it would be in their best interest to grant Bena – Franco access to the jetty.
Ajani said: “You have the next two week to register this stevedore that has been assigned to you by the federal government of Nigeria to oversee what goes on at that jetty.”
The Permanent Secretary mandated the taskforce on private jetties to avail her evidence of approval granted to the company immediately, if the representatives of Chevron Nigeria Limited fails to substantiate on the status of operating license for the jetty.
Ajani warned that failure to comply within the next two weeks will leave the ministry with no option than to shut operations at the Warri jetty.