PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: A maritime expert, Dr. Babalola James, has said Nigeria’s eastern seaports possess the capacity to generate massive revenue and create thousands of jobs if they are properly developed and given the necessary policy support by government.
James, who is the Secretary of the Rivers and Bayelsa Shippers Association, made the assertion during an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, where he lamented the continued underutilisation of ports in the eastern corridor of the country.
He identified the affected ports to include Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, Onne, Sapele and Koko, noting that their poor performance over the years was largely driven by political considerations rather than economic logic.
According to him, the major challenge confronting the eastern ports is the lack of political will to deliberately promote them and ensure sustained patronage by shipping lines, shippers and investors.
James explained that the geographical location of the ports also presents operational challenges, as most of them are located within creeks, unlike the Lagos ports which are positioned on the open sea, making access easier and cheaper for vessels.
The former spokesperson of the Shipping Trade Practitioners Association of Nigeria further decried the state of infrastructure at the eastern ports, describing most facilities as old, obsolete and dilapidated.
He said deliberate government intervention was required to reverse the trend, urging the Federal Government to introduce incentives that would attract investors and encourage shippers to utilise the eastern ports.
James also accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of neglecting the eastern ports, particularly after a visit by the United States Coast Guard to Nigeria.
According to him, Lagos Port was used as a reference point during the visit, and all recommendations made by the American Coast Guard were implemented there, while the eastern ports were allegedly ignored.
Despite the challenges, James said the eastern ports were still contributing significantly to the nation’s revenue, disclosing that millions of dollars and trillions of naira were being remitted into the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account from port-related activities in the region.
He stressed that improved infrastructure would not only increase revenue generation but also create massive employment opportunities for youths in the Niger Delta.
Describing the eastern ports as strategic to Nigeria’s economic growth, James called for urgent dredging of channels and rehabilitation of berths to enhance operational efficiency.
