International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said its Nigeria cargo handling operation under Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) has reached a two million manhours with zero lost time injury (LTI), a milestone.
“OMT reached the milestone two years after commencing commercial operations in 2021, which Rebecca Ollornwafor, OMT head of safety, said is “more than just an operational and business concept.”
“LTI may sound like a theoretical and abstract concept, but what we are celebrating is the fact that we have all been able to safely go home to our loved ones at the end of every workday,” Ollornwafor said.
Jim Stewart, OMT chief operating officer, shared the same sentiment and thanked all the hardworking men and women at the terminal for the good work and for leaving no room for complacency when it comes to keeping the terminal a safe workplace.
ICTSI Executive Vice President Christian R. Gonzalez congratulated the OMT team for the landmark achievement, which reflects the ICTSI Group’s safety-first culture.
“Everywhere we are, safety is our top priority. We are doing our best to provide our employees with a safe work environment and ensure that everyone gets home to their families safe,” said Gonzalez.
OMT in Nigeria is one of ICTSI’s four terminals in the African continent. The global port operator continues to seek expansion opportunities across West and South Africa, particularly in the container corridor between Durban and Gauteng.
OMT recently turned over three solar-powered water systems to the Ogu community to address the community’s pressing need for access to clean water.
Clean water is a fundamental requirement for human survival; however, numerous communities in the Niger Delta region continue to struggle with the lack of access to this vital resource.
“Today is a momentous occasion for both OMT and the Ogu community, who now have access to clean water. This achievement fills us with great joy and further inspires us to do our part in supporting our host communities,” said Jim Stewart, OMT chief operations officer.
Ogu community elders led by Chief Adokiye, Ogu Council of Chiefs chairman, thanked OMT for providing the community with sustainable access to clean water. Highlighting the project’s impact on their lives, the community pledged to diligently maintain the water systems to ensure their longevity.
The water system project is one of the ICTSI Group’s several social responsibility initiatives for its host communities. The Company currently operates 32 terminals worldwide — four of which are in Africa. ICTSI actively seeks to expand its footprint in the continent through opportunities along the Durban and Gauteng container corridor and other regions in West and South Africa.
