The Delta Shippers’ Asso
ciation has appealed to the Federal Government to evolve viable policies to revive moribund ports in the state.
The President, Delta Shippers’ Association (DESA), Mr Austin Egbegbadia, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Warri.
He said the situation at the ports had affected the cost of doing business and called on government to redress the irregularities.
The DESA president, who attributed the current situation in the Delta ports to maladministration and bad policies, said successive administrations had treated the situation at the ports with levity.
“Every time, we hear that government has awarded the dredging of the Delta ports, but there has been nothing to show for it,” he said.
Egbegbadia said that if the ports were made operational, the cost of doing business would be reduced and job opportunities would also be provided for the teeming unemployed youths.
The shipping magnate said that Delta ports had the capacity to provide over 100,000 direct employment and additional one million indirect jobs if operational.
“It is a pity that the successive government failed to be objective in tackling the challenges, instead they hinged the problem on youth restiveness and sea piracy,” he said.
Egbegbadia said that Delta ports was strategically located, adding that its proximity to the Eastern and Northern parts of the country gave it an edge over the Lagos ports.
“The Warri ports for instance remains one of the best sea ports in the world with ultra-modern facilities.
“Apart from the physical direct labour, the place was a beehive of business activities when it was functional; everybody was happy, Ocean-going liners were berthing; it was fun all the way.
“After government had spent billions of dollars to construct the port, it was allowed to remain fallow because of maladministration and wrong government policies.
“Lagos has the largest economy and the hub of activities is around the ports because all the industries operating in the state import their material through the port,” he said.