The Managing Director
of Sunshine Marine Equipment Ltd, Chief Ernest Nwokeoma has stressed the need for improved seaports infrastructure in Rivers State.
Nwokeoma, who made the assertion in a chat with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt Wednesday, said the call became necessary following the poor port facilities and low port patronage in recent time.
According to him, poor port facilities at the Port Harcourt Port and that of Onne had contributed to poor patronage, as most cargo vessels for the ports were diverted to other ports in the country.
He noted that with the provision of adequate port infrastructure, export and import activities  would be boosted as well as enhance trade at the ports, stressing that for a seaport to be competitive, it must have a robust infrastructure of international standard, among others.
The Managing Director said with an improved infrastructural setting, there would be increased trade and commerce internationally as well as position the ports to properly meet the demands of all categories of port users including stakeholders, importers and exporters.
Nwokeoma appealed to the Federal Government to give the concessionaries to improve their facilities or risk cancellation of contract agreement reached earlier, stressing that it should not be politicized because of its economic value to the nation, especially with the dividing fortunes currently facing the country.

Collins Barasimeye