Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has promised to revive and put into effective use all seaports located in the Niger-Delta, and also complete all Federal Government projects in the region, if voted into power.
Atiku made the promise on Thursday while addressing a crowd of PDP supporters at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, where the PDP presidential campaign rally was held.
Statistics has shown that despite the nearness of Eastern ports to markets in the North and the East, importers in these locations, have continued to make ports in Lagos, their preferred destination for taking delivery of their consignments.
“I will renovate all the seaports in Delta state. I will also complete all abandoned infrastructure projects. I promise I will deliver on these promises,” he said.
Also, apparently moved by the plight of commuters, motorists and port users, who come to Apapa metropolis on daily basis for business, Atiku Abubakar, earlier assured Nigerians that efforts would be made by his administration to decongest the roads leading to the two major seaports in Lagos, Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports, if voted into power.
This was part of the content of the Atiku’s policy document titled: ‘Get Nigeria Working Again’, which was launched on social media platforms before the end of 2018.
Atiku’s plans has become crucial at this time importers and their agents are paying dearly on demurrage to shipping companies and rent to terminal operators for the failure in the system, largely caused by dilapidated and congested port access roads as well as over dependent on Lagos ports.
According to the document, Atiku’s administration hopes to improve efficiency operations in the existing port and accelerate the development of alternative container ports especially inland dry ports.
Atiku stated that his administration will define timelines for completion of concessions granted from inland and dry port development.
He said that if voted into power, his administration will also sort Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and community efforts toward the development of transport infrastructure. “Partner with states and local governments to develop and rehabilitate the connecting road networks
Atiku further vowed to use alternative means of transportation by developing a new National Transport Policy that will addresses issues relevant to promoting inter-modalism including institutional fragmentation, intermodal regulation, intermodal connectors and measuring transport system performance.
“We will encourage transportation development around the nation’s agricultural and industrial clusters. Enhance linkages to agricultural zones and develop agricultural collection and distribution hubs in Jebba, Lafia, Makurdi, Lokoja, Pategi/Baro, Shendam and Jalingo,” he assured.
Atiku further said that he will develop the Lagos – Abuja rail network on the standard gauge system to revive Nigeria’s rail system.
Commenting on this, Emma Nwabunwanne, a Lagos based importer, who commended the plans to decongest Lagos Port, said that port users would be relieved if Atiku’s administration will deliver on the promise.
Apart from developing inland ports, Nwabunwanne urged Atiku to ensure that other seaports in the Eastern part of the country become fully utilised. He however noted that there was need to effectively revive the rail lines by concessioning the rail system for effective use.
“The environment around Apapa port city is no longer conducive for seamless port operation. The man-hour lost on the roads leading Lagos ports by port users, container carrying trucks and operators, has been quiet disheartening,” said Nwabunwanne.
Listing the operational challenges facing Eastern ports, he urged Atiku to deal with issues around insecurity on the water channels, widening infrastructural gap and shallow draught of the water channels leading to some of the ports in the East, which limits bigger vessels with higher capacity from berthing in those ports.
Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie
