The West Africa Container Terminal, located in Onne, Rivers State, has officially inked a Memorandum of Agreement aimed at promoting cooperation and development within its host community of Ogu in Rivers State.
The Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, made this announcement in a statement released on Sunday. He emphasized that this endeavor is expected to contribute to both the community’s peace and its economic growth.
Zafar expressed his anticipation and joy for this milestone, noting that the journey began modestly with a small team, limited container business, but a strong vision and commitment for the future.
He pointed out that the success of the terminal demonstrates the significance of local community partnerships in Nigeria.
He stated, “Looking at where we are now and what we have achieved, we can all be proud of it.
That represents an incredible story of public-private and local community partnership in Nigeria, where international companies come and invest in a greenfield project, and based on that, develop an entire port ecosystem, promote Nigerian trade, and support the local community.”
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Zafar further mentioned that over the past two and a half years, WACT has been dedicated to enhancing its relationships with the host communities.
They have focused on building transparency, visibility, and inclusivity within these relationships, which he described as an exhaustive and herculean effort.
According to Zafar, these efforts align with the group’s purpose of improving the quality of life for everyone by connecting the world.
He emphasized that WACT is committed to making life better not only for its employees but also for its stakeholders, including the Ogu community.
Vincent Nemieboka, the Executive Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government, commended WACT for its positive impact on the community’s development and expressed the community’s willingness to cooperate and support WACT in its endeavors. Nemieboka was represented by his Chief of Staff, Isaac William.