Even as the Federal Government is currently working on the creation of deep-sea ports across the country, Frontline maritime expert, Mr. Lucky Amiwero has said that the creation of more deep sea ports in Nigeria will only lead to under utilization of the existing ports.
Amiwero who was guest on a programme on a national television yesterday, said the country does not need the creation of deep-sea ports, but rather, a single trans-shipment centre which will act as service destination of cargo should be created.
Even as the Federal Government is currently working on the creation of deep-sea ports across the country, Frontline maritime expert, Mr. Lucky Amiwero has said that the creation of more deep sea ports in Nigeria will only lead to under utilization of the existing ports.
Amiwero who was guest on a programme on a national television yesterday, said the country does not need the creation of deep-sea ports, but rather, a single trans-shipment centre which will act as service destination of cargo should be created.
He pointed out that this is necessary because neighboring countries in West Africa are already building ports for Nigerian bound cargoes.
"We are losing very fast on our trans-shipment because Cote d Ivoire is building, Benin Republic is building and they are not building for their cargo because they don't have what we have, they are building ports for our cargo and everybody in this sub region is building for our cargo so we must look at how we can accommodate these cargoes"
"And we don't need 500 deep-sea ports, what we need is one single load centre and trans-shipment centre and it should be considered in Lagos because Lagos has what they called destination of cargo"
Amiwero cautioned that creation of deep-sea ports should not be approved as a way of giving political favors, but rather, emphasis should be made on how to attract cargo to the already existing ports across the country.
He also stated that industries should be created in cities where the deep-sea ports are being considered if not, it will only be a waste of resources.
"When you build a deep-sea port in Akwa Ibom state for example how do you attract cargo there? It should not be political, the Sapele port has been built yet nobody is using it"
"You have Calabar port with its own problem and other ports lying fallow so you don't need the deepsea ports and there are things you can use those facilities to do and you don't need to build ports when you know you don't have industries in such places that can attract cargoes”
He made a case of the Onitsha port, saying that "I don't know how many ships had berthed at Onitsha port, you don't play politics with things like this and wasting government funds, the best thing to do is to get experts so as to get things done the right way" he stressed.
Discussion about this post