Lawyers task FG on development of seaports in Rivers

THE Admiralty Lawyers Society of Nigeria ( ALSN) has charged the Federal Government to facilitate the development of deep seaports, dry ports and the Port Harcourt port.

The call followed a few weeks after the Federal Government commenced the development of a deep seaport in Bonny Council Area of Rivers State.

Insisting that for the sea ports project to be achieved, insecurity on the nation’s waterways should be tackled headlong, the lawyers, who major on maritime issues, stressed the need for the government to adopt stiffer measures in fighting piracy.

National President of the Association, Angus Chukwuka, stated this when he led some post- graduate students of Maritime Law of the Rivers State University ( RSU) on a visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

He charged the government to work towards ensuring more conducive atmosphere in the ports to attract increased patronage and boost trade activities at the Port Harcourt Port and others across the country.

“We urge the Federal Government to take the deep sea port and dry port more seriously, because the fact that we don’t have effective seaports is also worsening unemployment

“If we have deep sea port properly developed, it would address unemployment among the teaming youths. The youths engaged in armed- robbery and piracy could repent if they are meaningfully engaged. So, we seek timely and adequate development of deep seaports,” he said.