By Uzor Odigbo
The unending congestion of Apapa seaports, despite the massive rehabilitation of roads experienced in the area has continued to worry well meaning Nigerians who believe that pragmatic solution must be found.
Speaking at the 2023 Conference and Awards ceremony organized by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) at Apapa Lagos, a renowned maritime stakeholder, Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanweh said solution to the issues bordering on congestion of Lagos ports lies on steps taken by the Muhammadu Buhari administration that brought the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to flag off the dredging of the Oguta-Orashi River on 11 May, 2023.
Eze Ohanweh who is the Obi Gburugburu of Isiala-Mbano LGA, Imo State was represented by Emeka Iwueze, a Lagos based lawyer who sought the cooperation of journalists especially AMJON to take the lead in the advocacy and realization of this laudable Orashi- Oguta Seaport dream.
He emphasised that about 18 nautical miles distance of Urashi to the Atlantic Ocean cannot be compared to Lagos Port of 50 nautical miles and Port Harcourt 60 that were all dredged to make for navigation.
Eze Ohanweh decried the suffering of very many Nigerians which he said could be reduced when a sea or river port becomes operational in the southeast.
He said, “Going by the present economic realities of the country today and knowing very well that greater number of importers in Nigeria today are Igbos of the Southeast who constitute greater number of the freight forwarders, import 60 per cent of all the containers leaving Apapa/Tin-can seaports to the eastern part of Nigeria.
“These importers eventually move their goods(containers) to southeast from Lagos. There is need to facilitate the dredging/ construction of the Urashi Seaport in Imo State commissioned in May 2022 by the former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“Urashi Seaport will seamlessly link the Oseskwa Seaport in Ihiala, Anambra State which will no doubt benefit States like Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers Edo and Kogi.
“The sea port if revived would not only decongest Lagos, it would provide jobs, increase revenue base of the federal government, have multiplier effect on the agro and socioeconomic development of the old Eastern Region
The royal father sounded it clear that any one or agency directly or indirectly sabotaging the realization of the port is enemy of the people. Reminded that importers despite the numerous losses they bore, they would eventually transfer all the costs to the already impoverished Nigerians.
“Despite congestion at Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin-Can, movement of goods from Lagos to the Southeastern markets of Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba and Owerri comes with much cost as a result of extortions by some dishonest law enforcement officers and other agencies, coupled with delays and other challenges faced.
In his paper presentation at the conference, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Munirudeen Oyebamiji, ably represented by NIWA’s GM, Business Development, Surveyor Olumide Adetola, said discovery of oil in the country caused government to neglect development of inner waterways, as they moved their focus on coastal areas where they were doing oil businesses to the detriment of the inland waterways.
Apart from finance which he said is militating against the realisation of the ports development, security he said remains a major albatross.
