Revamping Of Eastern Ports: Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo Lauds Fg
South
Following the successful berthing of Marserk Line, an acclaimed shipping giant in the Nigerian maritime sector at Onne Port Harcourt, The Honourable member representing Orumba North and South in the Nation’s Parliament, Hon. Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo (Ewepudike na Nanka) has showered encomiums on the Federal Government for opening up the Eastern Corridor of the Nigerian Port thereby reducing the difficulties encountered by Eastern importers while transporting goods from Lagos port by roads to the east or South.
He said that Eastern importers are often times attacked by criminals due to bad roads, heavy pressures of trucks, tankers and lorries breaking down on the far distant road with increasing cost of repairs, maintenance of both vehicles and roads.
Hon. Dr. Ezenwankwo maintained that the nation’s ports are the main gateway to the country and key to the Federal Government’s objective of diversifying and growing the economy as it can create jobs and enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Recall, that no fewer than 754 vessels deserted the eastern ports between 2013 and 2016 due to challenges attributed to deplorable berths, dearth of finger mooring jetties, lack of operational vehicles and fire hydrants at quays, shallow channels, which make it impossible for bigger vessels to access the port, decrepit port infrastructure is another major problem. Thus reducing the number of vessels that berthed at the ports from 2,268 vessels in 2013 to 1,514 in 2016.
The over- concentration of shipping activities in the Lagos ports and its attendant traffic jam has led to economic hardship to some businesses.
Our neighbouring countries have also gained from the congestion in Lagos ports as the hitherto neglect of the eastern ports has translated to economic boom to the Cotonou, Lome, Takoradi and Abidjan ports as many Nigerians ship their goods through them.
Hon. Dr. Okwudili opined that with the measures already put in place by the NPA which includes the complete dredging of the Onne and Warri ports put at $44.8 million and $30 million, respectively has made it possible for vessels to berth at Onne Port and Warri Port, when extended to other ports in the country will optimally enhance the country’s maritime resources and thus the 10 million jobs proposed by the FG in next 10 years can be created from the maritime sector if the ports are fully developed.
Hon. Dr. Okwudili Ezenwankwo also called on the federal government to put the Onitsha River Port into maximum use as well as develop other dry port for the growth of the Nations economy.
