Revival of Eastern ports will boost economy – NPA

Lagos – The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, says the revival of the Eastern ports will boost the nation’s economy.

This came as the Federal Government, through the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, said steps were being taken on security and provision of infrastructure at the seaports at the eastern part of the country.

Eastern ports include the Onne seaport, Port Harcourt seaport, Warri seaport, Calabar seaport, Koko seaport, Onitsha inland port, amongst others.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, who disclosed information on plans for repositioning the ports, also expressed the determination of the authority to implement resolutions of a recent Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Workshop on the Patronage of Eastern Ports in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Maritime sector stakeholders had at the workshop identified insecurity and infrastructural deficit as major challenges confronting the patronage of eastern ports.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Transportation said the development of alternative seaports in the country was necessary to relieve the pressures on Lagos seaport, noting that Lagos ports had been characterised by gridlocks as a result of influx of cargoes at the ports.

He disclosed that the government had slashed the period required for import and export documentation from two weeks to between seven and ten days.

Represented by the Minister of State for Transportation, Ms. Gbemisola Saraki, the minister noted that 75 percent of shippers in the country were from eastern parts of the country.

He added that the workshop was organised to provide the solutions to the revival and patronage of the eastern ports by the international and local shipping communities.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is imperative that Nigeria continues to remove the difficulties hindering businesses in the country to make our economy more investment friendly.

"This is why this workshop is organised to listen to complaints and to gather information on the challenges of shippers to enable government take necessary steps in resolving and encouraging activities at the Eastern Ports,” Amaechi stated.