Association’s Ex-President Lauds Return Of Lagos Fishing Terminal To Owners    

A former president of Nigeria Trawler Owners Association (NITOA); Mrs Margaret Orakwusi on Tuesday said that the return of the Lagos International Fishing Terminal to trawler owners would further boost the fishing business.
Orakwusi told newsmen in Lagos that the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had ordered the return of the facility to its original owners.
Orakwusi said that the Phases 1 and 2 of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal were originally earmarked as a fishing terminal to assist trawler owners in their business.
She said: “The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has been using the place to stack containers to the disadvantage of the trawler owners.
“It gladdens my heart to see that the minister has heeded to our cry and has halted the NPA from further concession of the area.’’
The terminal is expected to have cold rooms, workshop and laboratory centres and a bay for members use instead of individual having their own outfits which may be expensive to maintain.
According to Orakwusi, it was regrettable that the terminal meant to boost food production in the country and earn foreign exchange had suffered under-utilisation.
She advised the NITOA members to rally round the present leadership of the association in order to move forward.
Orakwusi urged them to approach financial institutions for assistance to develop the terminal and function well.