The Benue state government has constituted a nine-member committee for the realization of its dream of establishing a Makurdi River port. It has also appointed the registrar, chief executive officer, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Sir Mike Jukwe as the committee’s chairman.
Inaugurating the committee recently at Makurdi, the State Executive Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam said the move was in the actualization of the Makurdi River Port for the much needed employment and wealth- creation in line with the transformation agenda.
The Benue state government has constituted a nine-member committee for the realization of its dream of establishing a Makurdi River port. It has also appointed the registrar, chief executive officer, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Sir Mike Jukwe as the committee’s chairman.
Inaugurating the committee recently at Makurdi, the State Executive Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam said the move was in the actualization of the Makurdi River Port for the much needed employment and wealth- creation in line with the transformation agenda.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to Benue State Government, Dr. David Salifu, charged the committee to work assiduously for the establishment of Makurdi River Port, in order to attract investors to the port through public private partnership option.
He urged the members to sensitize stakeholders and people of the State on the move while ensuring adequate provision for security and safety of the dredging and subsequently the river port.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the Makurdi River Port Implementation Committee, Sir Mike Jukwe, on behalf of the members, expressed profound appreciation to the Government and people of Benue State, for finding them worthy of the assignment.
He reiterated the stand of the committee to exploit to the maximum level the benefits of the maritime, agriculture and solid minerals potentials of the State.
Sir Jukwe assured that the committee would work towards providing the much needed manpower for the maritime industry in the state and would facilitate the establishment of the Centre for Freight Forwarding and Port Management studies in the Benue State University.
He also pledged to work closely with the Executive and Legislative arms of the Government to review related existing laws and enact necessary legislation for the establishment of the Makurdi River Port, for them to work in conformity with the law, and commended the Benue State Government for the initiative.
The Committee chairman, however, called on the Government for adequate funding and the support of all, in order to deliver to the people of the state a most modern River Port with multi-modal transport facilities on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, as well as maximize the benefits of the dredging of the River Benue.
Other members of the committee include: Chief Joseph Abokis, Representative of Ministry of Works and Transport – Engr. Alex Orya, Representative of Ministry of Finance – Mr. M. I. Agber, Representative of the Community – His Highness, Chief Sule Abenga – Ter Makurdi, Benue State ALGON Chairman, Mr. Bauchi David Ayongu, Hon. Clement Beetse and Dr. (Mrs) Joy Agi.
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