Desmond Iwuchukwu
The Federal Government says it has commenced moves to revive Eastern Ports across the region.
The Eastern Ports consist of Calabar, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Onne, Koko, Burutu in Delta State.
The Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said this during a One-Day Stakeholders Workshop on Framework to stimulate Activities and Encourage Patronage of Eastern Ports put together by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in conjunction with the Maritime Agencies.
Delivering his Keynote Address during the sensitization workshop, the Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi said the event was conceived to relieve the pressure at Lagos Ports and to assist importers to have alternative and competitive ports.
Represented by the Minister of State for Transportation Gbemisola Saraki said the thinking of the Federal Government is to make the Eastern Ports very visible.
The Minister said the Eastern Ports have played a major role in the development of international trade through shipping and nation-building but lamented that the ports are experiencing a downturn in shipping as a result of dwindling infrastructure, insecurity, low channel draught, power supply at the ports and unavailability of Marine infrastructures.
”It is remarkable to note that this workshop is timely conceived considering the fact that Lagos Ports are overburdened in terms of receiving and handling of inbound and outbound cargo thereby causing gridlock with its attendant consequences of delay in the clearance process, loss of man-hour, revenue and even corruption. It, therefore, became necessary that alternative ports should be developed to relieve the pressure on Lagos Ports, assists importers to have alternative and competitive ports” he said.
Addressing newsmen during the event, the Acting Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko said the federal government is already addressing issues that are impeding the patronage of the Eastern Ports.
He said the federal government is working towards revitalizing the Eastern Ports for effective service delivery.
In his comment, former Minister of Interior Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho rtd called for the viability of the Eastern Ports.
He noted that the policies of the Federal Government led to the abandonment of Eastern Ports by importers and stakeholders
