Rivers State-owned Fishing Trawlers Abandoned At Borokiri Jetty

There are reports that Rivers State- owned fishing trawlers stationed at the Borokiri fishing terminal in Port Harcourt, and may  have alleged  been abandoned and wrecked by the  core investor and operator; Vijons Investment Limited.
Already, the Special Adviser to the Governor of River state on Aquaculture and Deep Sea Fishing, Hon Briggs Kurotamunoye has faulted Vijons Company for poor performance.

There are reports that Rivers State- owned fishing trawlers stationed at the Borokiri fishing terminal in Port Harcourt, and may  have alleged  been abandoned and wrecked by the  core investor and operator; Vijons Investment Limited.
Already, the Special Adviser to the Governor of River state on Aquaculture and Deep Sea Fishing, Hon Briggs Kurotamunoye has faulted Vijons Company for poor performance.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent in Port Harcourt gathered that Hon Briggs who was re – appointed by Governor  Rotimi Ameachi to the same office, was part of the government officials that supervised the enlistment of Vijons Investment Limited during his earlier engagement .
This according to close sources may have informed his disappointment with the company assigned to man the fishing trawlers on which the Rivers State government spent several millions of dollars to acquire.
During an inspection visit to ascertain the condition of the fishing trawlers, Rivers State Government said they are not happy with the state -owned fishing trawlers are being managed.
Hon Briggs said that government is unhappy with the management of the fishing trawlers by Vijons Investment limited. He said that government has spent huge sums of money to acquire the trawlers, stating that five years after, government is yet to see the financial and economic benefit of the trawlers.
However, the special adviser who was visibly angry with the poor state of the trawlers ordered the former management of the fishing trawlers who earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rivers State Government ( Vijons Nigeria Limited) to report to his office  for clarifications. “There must be accountability in the way government property is run” Briggs stated.
Contributing during the visit, Engr. Ipalibo Lawson, Managing Director/CEO of Petro Quip Nigeria Limited (the core Investor at the fishing terminal), decried the rot and rust that have characterized the fishing trawlers.
He said that if the fishing trawlers were in good use, that it would have created employment opportunities for the unemployed youth, thereby generating increase economic activities in the state.