Skip to main content

Analysts And Stakeholders Kick Against The Planned N288bn Sea port Project In Warri

  • Say it’s waste of public fund

Maritime industry analysts and other stakeholders say another seaport in Warri, which the Federal Government plans to build at the cost of N288 billion, is unnecessary and amounts to waste of public fund.

The maritime stakeholders said with three seaports situated at the Warri area and remaining largely unused, building another port smacks of improper planning and poor leadership and lack of touch about what the people want.

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, said on Thursday that the federal government is to build a new seaport in Warri, Delta State. The port, according to him, will be sited at Pessu and would cost $800 million (N288 billion).

Amaechi who disclosed this on the occasion of the empowerment programme for 1,700 women and youths with starter packs, micro-enterprise enhancement loan and resettlement packages under the National Directorate of Employment empowerment programme, called on the youths to ensure that the project is executed without issues.

He said, “We are building a brand new seaport in Pessu. It will cost $800 million. When you stop them from working you are losing such a huge investment where the entire community can be contractors, some can supply sand. There is also the Bonny Seaport coming up. The best thing to do is to allow the development; let the sea port project go on smoothly.”

But reacting to the report, a maritime analyst, Johnson Uloh, said another seaport in Warri is not necessary. He called on the federal government to jettison the plan and redirect the fund to reviving the Warri Port where business activities have remained at their lowest ebb.

He said, “Since the concession of terminals in Warri Port, the operators have not got any meaningful business. I think a better thing to do with such amount of public fund is to develop the Warri Port. Let the port be drege and let the Nigerian Port Authority be seen to have provided all it is required to do according to the agreements.”

“Why will a right thinking government build another seaport again in Warri when we have the Warri Port and Koko Port? We also have a port at Escravos for wet cargo. We keep hearing that the port in Warri is being utilised because it has a shallow draft. The government should dredge it and make it function to maximum, instead of building another one,” said Ifeanyi Nze, a maritime lawyer.

Ade Benjamin, an agro-allied products exporter said if government is bent on building another port in Warri, it should consider a deep seaport.

“It appears the seaport is something planned in a hurry; just out of the blues, the minister of transport is saying the government is going to build a port. The government should not just start building any port, except it is a deep seaport. And we talk about building a deep seaport, it should be something in partnership with the private sector. I don’t understand the kind of port the government is planning to locate in Warri again,” he said.

• FG approves N1.7bn for Bonny Island Jetty

Meanwhile, the federal government has approved the sum of N1.7 billion for the Bonny Island Jetty construction in Rivers State.

The approval was announced after a Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) in Abuja in which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided.

Gbemisola Saraki, the minister of state for transportation, who briefed newsmen after the FEC meeting, explained that the memo for the approval of award of contract for the construction of jetty at Bonny Island in Rivers State was presented by her ministry.

She said, “This approval was sought and was duly given. Some years ago, we had a jetty at Bonny Island but it collapsed and now creating a huge problem for tug boats and pilotage. So, what happened is that the pilot’s lounge is actually in Bonny. So boats used to come all the way from Port Harcourt to pick up the pilots. It was advertised in late 2017 and today, the council gave approval in the tune of N1.7 billion and it will be completed in 15 months.’’

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Richest Pastors In Africa And Their Net Worth In 2019

Popular pastors are increasingly becoming Richest Pastors in Africa making headlines with open flamboyance and unreserved suaveness being an integral part of them.Many ask who might be the Richest Pastors in Africa today so a list of wealthiest African pastors, known for ranking on top and with a huge attendance in each service. These are servants of God, with a mission to spread the gospel of Christ through ministry. But in doing so some have emerged with rich investments and living a luxurious life. Below is a list of top 10 richest pastors in Africa! 1. Bishop David Oyedepo – $150 million Bishop David Oyedepo He is Africa’s number one richest pastor. Founder of Living Faith World Outreach Ministry. This Ministry started in 1981 and has become the largest church on the continent 2. Pastor E.A Adeboye – $130 million  Pastor E.A Adeboye He is one of the Nigerian Pastors with private jet, he is second among the richest pastors in Nigeria. His net worth reaches astonishing 130 millio...
Post a Comment
Read more

Actress Chizzy Alichi Gets Married Traditionally In Enugu (Photos)

 IMAGE CELEBRITIES Actress Chizzy Alichi Gets Married Traditionally In Enugu (Photos) By  Adebiyi Chioma   On  Dec 9, 2019 Share Facebook Twitter WhatsApp BlackBerry Google+ Pinterest ReddIt Email Linkedin Tumblr StumbleUpon Seasoned Nollywood actress,  Chizzy Alichi and her hearthrob,  Chike Ugochukwu  married traditionally on Saturday December 7,2019. The actress who got engaged to her fiancee in September 2019, had her traditional marriage at her hometown in Enugu State and her colleagues turned up in their numbers to support her. Celebrities, such as, Judy Austin, Eve Esin, Iheoma Nancy, Patience Ozokwor and many others were spotted at the grand ceremony. Check-Out photos from the traditional wedding below: READ ALSO Why My Marriage To Star Actress, Foluke Daramola Can Never Crash –… READ ALSO: Similar Topics Photos: Married woman caught pant down with ex-lover, faces jungle justice in Enugu Actress Kate Henshaw glows in stunning new photos Your ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Man Confessed- I Defiled My Two years Old Daughter Thinking She My Wife

One Iniobong Okon Moses of Ikot Amupe Obio Offot, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State who allegedly defiled his two-year-old step daughter said he committed the act thinking that it was with his wife. Iniobong revealed this when he was paraded in the police command headquarters, Ikot-Akpanabia alongside other suspects allegedly involved in incest and rape. The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Odiko Macdon, while briefing the press on Friday over the activities of sexual predators in the state said Iniobong forcefully defiled the two year old while carrying her on his laps. Macdon noted that the forceful penetration caused the victim to sustain serious injuries, which made her bled profusely, adding that the girl has been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. The suspect in an interrogation by newsmen, confessed to the crime and narrated how he came back from a vigil, drunk, grabbed his two-year-old step daughter thinking that she was his wife and had carnal knowledge of her....
Post a Comment
Read more