*Eastern Have Boundless Potentials

*Cabotage Is A Low Hangin Fruit

*To Review all Concession Agreements

*Inland waterways Could Be Maximized

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, after tour of the Easter Ports and other facilities in the region under the purview of his Ministry, has reiterated his commitment to make the ports more active and attractive to importers, exporters and other users.

Speaking during an enlarged stakeholders meeting with terminal operators and investors in Port-Harcourt where he commissioned  some operational boats procured by the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, the transport minister said the ports in the Eastern flank hold enormous potentials for economic growth of the country.

Addressing stakeholders at the meeting, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, (MJS), said  “This meeting is geared towards positioning us as a country to maximize the comparative advantages that our maritime, geographic, and demographic advantages confer. The Ministry is keen on working with the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to grow the fortunes of the Eastern Ports and I will like to state for the records that the Eastern Ports given their boundless potentials are strategic national assets that this administration is poised to develop to their full potential”.

Speaking on issues affecting the ports, the minister noted “My tour of the two Port Complexes has thoroughly furnished me with a deeper grasp of the contemporary issues, and I want to assure you that we shall soon heave a sigh of relief as we ramp up work to grant approval to the several initiatives for Port efficiency put forward by the NPA as are set to frontally tackle the challenge of channel insecurity which has slowed the growth momentum of the Eastern Ports by deploying assets of the Deep Blue project and the renewed synergy between the NPA and the Nigerian Navy”.

On the state of port infrastructure MJS assured stakeholders that everything would be done to address the deficit.

In his words “Most of the challenges of aging infrastructure and allied matters which you have raised in your previous stakeholder engagements with the NPA Management have been brought to my attention, and I want to assure you that we are working assiduously to provide measurable solutions as quickly as possible”.

“Let me reiterate that the Federal Ministry of Transportation will expeditiously review all Concession Agreements and ensure strict compliance with the terms by both the NPA and the Concessionaires”, Sambo stated.

NIWA Boats Commissioned

At the National Inland Waterways Authority’s Area Office in Port Harcourt where he commissioned three patrol boats and 32- sitter ferry boat to enhance operational efficiency as well as encourage water transportation in Rivers State, the Managing Director of  NIWA, Dr.  Kingsley Moghalu, disclosed that in less than a year, NIWAS commissioned  more than twenty  patrol boats, a house boat, tugboat and water ambulance for distribution to various Area offices of the Authority as part of the Agency’s efforts to ensure that the nation’s Inland  waterways provides a truly safe, efficient, cost effective and alternative mode of transportation of goods and persons as well as become competitive and attractive.

According to the NIWA Managing Director “The huge opportunities that abounds in the nation’s Inland waterways can only be maximized if concerted efforts are made towards the development of infrastructure and proper funding to make the waterways attractive and competitive to players”.

Commending NIWAS the transportation minister said “Seriously, MD,  l am happy I came here today. If didn’t come, I would not have known the strides you have achieved. Without doubts, I think you have made the greatest impacts of all the Managing Directors that have served the Authority”. “Your tenure has moved the Authority from level 5 to Level 9”.

The Minister said water transportation is the cheapest and safest means of moving goods and persons and key to development of countries endowed with water. He added that because twenty-eight states of Nigeria could be accessed by water, there is every need to develop and take advantage of that endowment.

Maiduguri Eastern Rail Project

The minister during his tour and inspection tour of the Maiduguri Eastern Rail Project  in Rivers State, expressed his displeasure over vandalism of railway structures and properties along the corridor.

Sambo said the issue of vandalism and challenges of insecurity in the area has, unfortunately so, led to the suspension of rail construction works in the area.

Sambo said that the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the contractor handling the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the project, complained of attacks on its workers along the Abia State axis of the rail line.

The minister, who expressed displeasure over these acts, said that in the history of Nigeria no administration had invested more in rail infrastructure like the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sambo called on the media and the judiciary to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT, to ensure that these economic saboteurs are not only exposed but prosecuted and sentenced speedily to serve as deterrent to others.

On alleged diversion of funds meant for the Eastern rail line to other projects, the Minister said it was an empty allegation as the progress made so far was from the 15% of the counterpart funding by Nigeria, while the 85% to be provided by foreign partners was still being negotiated.

Cabotage

The Cabotage Vessel Financing fund (CVFF) established under the. Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003, has remained a contentious subject as the Fund has grown but inaccessible by indigenous ship owners even as they groan and moan under the yoke of debts and grounded unemployed vessels/crew.

In his comments on the CVFF, when he spoke with maritime stakeholders in Port-Harcourt, the Transport minister Mu’azu Jaji Sambo said “This is a Fund that was established under the Cabotage Act in order to build domestic capacity”

“I want to say it here, that it is indeed a low hanging fruit, “I will do anything within my power to make sure that fund is disbursed to Nigerians as quickly as possible so that Nigerian Ship Owners can increase capacity as well as generate a welfare instead of patronizing foreign Ships and money from such business is taken out of the hands of Nigerians rendering us jobless”.

Describing the CVFF as a low hanging fruit which could be harvested, the minister said the Fund would support maritime activities.

“If we get our acts right, the maritime industry can replace the revenue from the oil”, the minister said.

Stakeholders are optimistic that from the confidence which the minister exudes, the industry could witness key moments under his leadership.