‘Bad Policies To Blame For State Of Rivers Ports’

Broad consensus of stakeholders has once again re-echoed that present dilemma experienced in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other ports in Rivers State has been as a result of deliberate stifling policies targeted to kill ports in the region.

They insisted that there have also been calculated efforts by economic enemies of the state to kill the port system in the region.

National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), and other critical stakeholders of the maritime and organized private sector, corroborated this at the 4th Quarter Council Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) hosted by the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the banquet dinner, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, expressed shock that the ports in the state are unfairly singled out for astronomical charges, which according to him, has been instrumental to the scaring away of potential importers and exporters from the state, while other ports outside the region are fairly benchmarked in rates.

The governor said, “We are happy that the likes of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and NACCIMA are seriously engaged in advocacy to ensure that a change is effected. I want to assure you that the Rivers State Government is committed to partnering with you to achieve this objective. We also promised to exploit the potentials of the ports in reviving the state economy”.

President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Dr Emi Membere Otaji, in his remarks, underscored the economic importance of resuscitating the sea ports in Rivers State.

According to him, “we must make Port Harcourt ports work so that everything will not gravitate to Lagos. PHCCIMA has been interfacing with key stakeholders and we will strive further to ensure our first love shipping is reinvented as envisioned by our finding fathers.”

NACCIMA President, Chief Bassey E.O Edem, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for delivering its promise to provide a permanent trade fair site for the city chamber, and lauded the government for creating an enabling environment for the organized private sector to thrive.

He said reviving Port Harcourt ports has become necessary as it will help stimulate the state’s economy and create strings of multiple employment opportunities, just as he also promised to help in the advocacy.

Speaking on the essence of the meeting, he said it was an avenue to review the economic situation of the country with a view to proffering lasting solutions that will position the country in good direction, and thanked PHCCIMA for being a wonderful host.

The NACCIMA 4th quarter council meeting banquet dinner event also witnessed a lecture by, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, a one-time commissioner for transport in Lagos State on the Topic: ‘Re-inventing Port Harcourt as a Port City’, where he regretted the abundant but wasting assets in the country.