Goodluck Jonathan, Bode George, others urge modernization of Eastern Ports as NPA insists on compliance with regulations

Maritime stakeholders who converged for the Ist International Deep Sea Port Forum, IDSIF, in Lagos yesterday expressed divergent views on the ongoing ambition by the Coastal States of Lagos, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Calabar to establish Deep Sea Ports for the economic transformation of the states.

Speaker after speaker, the economic potentials of deep sea ports was acknowledged but their sustainability and viability raised concerns as speakers and discussants disagreed on modalities.

Convener of the forum, elder ASU Beks, publisher of Shipping World, said the forum became necessary to properly align the need for modern deep sea ports with present economic realities.

Father of the day, former President Goodluck Jonathan in his opening remarks bemoaned the demise of the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line, NNSL, cautioning against the repeat of such costly mistakes by Nigeria in the frenzy to build new deep sea ports in the country even as called for even spread of modernization plans in all sea ports in Nigeria.

Chief Bode George, former Board Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, aligned with the former President’s position.

“Developments across the world should teach us not to concentrate national investment in any particular region for any reason. What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz is a warning which must be taken seriously”

Former Managing Director of NPA, Alhaji Bello Gwandu, said the ports of Apapa and Tin Can were built to cater for imports by Nigeria only.

“What we should be talking about now is the construction of International Sea Ports that could handle very large vessels with international cargo for different countries not Deep Sea Ports for states which lack cargo and the requisite transportation connectivity needed for cargo evacuation”

For the Governor of Bayelsa state, His Excellency, Douye Diri, represented by the state commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Faith Zibs, Deep Sea Port means more than just building such infrastructure.

According to the Governor, “For coastal States such as Bayelsa, deep seaports represent far more than maritime infrastructure. They are engines of economic transformation”

“They serve as gateways for trade, catalysts for industrialization, drivers of export expansion, and enablers of job creation across multiple value chains, including shipping, logistics, fisheries, manufacturing and maritime services”

Presenting a paper on Maritime Financing in Nigeria, the Managing Director/CEO of the Regional Maritime Development Bank, Mr. Adeniran Aderogba, said cargo availability is a guarantee for long term loan.

He said such loans not only strengthens Port infrastructure but also boost the economy of nations. He however expressed worry that while many financial institutions are ready and willing to lend, many operators and loan seekers lack the financial credibility and background to attract long term loans.

In his presentation titled Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria Deep Sea Port Development, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara pinpointed the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a model for Nigeria.

He called on investors in Deep Sea Ports to study the Lekki Port model, abide with existing port Regulatory guidelines and follow regulations to avoid costly legal issues when embarking on Deep Sea Port Development.

Dr. Capt Enisouh Warredi in his elaborate presentation on the need and benefits of port automation, insisted that Nigeria needs to wake up and embrace technology in its port operations to become competitive and attractive.

“The world has moved from the era of analogue to robotics in sea port operations. Automation is not just inside the ports, it extends to the port corridors and immediate vicinity”

He urged Port developers to think deep, hire the best of the best brains around, deploy technology and ensure efficient cargo movement mechanisms if the canvased ports are to succeed.

A high point of the IDSIF was the declaration of former president Goodlluck Jonathan as the father of modern Deep Sea Port Development in Nigeria for giving approval and providing funding  in December 2013, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC); when he approved $1.345 billion for the take off of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project and also granted a $200 million loan to Lagos state to meet its equity contribution for the project.