The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating why South South and South Eastern Ports are not operational has directed the Clerk of the House to invite National Inland Waterways, NIWA, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport and Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council to appear before it today to give answers to issues concerning the concession of Onitsha River Port and four point six billion naira expended in 2012 on Onitsha River Port Rehabilitation.


The chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Hon Yusuf Yakub in his final rulings after submissions made by various stakeholders during a public hearing at the Patterson Auditorium, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, noted that the motion on why Eastern Ports are not working, sponsored by the member representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Honourable Ifeanyi Ibezi, would be one of the most important motions to be moved at the floor of the ninth Assembly once it is put to use.


Honourable Yakub emphasized that concession of the Onitsha River Port is key to the development of Eastern region and Nigeria as a whole, adding that their mission was not to witch hunt anybody but to make the River Port operational for maximum use.


The member representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Honourable Ibezi in a remark, said that there is need to activate all the Eastern Ports for the development of Nigeria.


He assured Ndi Anambra that the ninth National Assembly under Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila would implement its report at the end of the findings.
Anambra State Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Honourable Uchenna Okafor said that the solution to Apapa Lagos gridlock is to operationalize Onitsha River Port, and others in the South-South region.


In his own speech, the Transport Commissioner, Dr Christian Madubuko said the importance of RiverPort cannot be over emphasized and thanked the House of Representatives Committee for their mission saying that their move have shown a great light at the end of the tunnel.


In an address, the General Manager, Ports Services, National Inland Waterways, Engineer Tammy Fiberesima, said the hearing involved all active stakeholders, adding that the concession of Onitsha River Port will make the port work maximally and promote huge volume of cargo traffic.
Presenting an address the Secretary of ASMATA, Dr. Rosemary Anazodo, said that traders are losing millions of naira in paying demurrage as a result of overstretched Apapa Port wharf.


Others who spoke at the event include, a former Commissioner for Information Chief Tony Onyimah, Mr. Jide Ikeakor, MD ANSSIPA, President General of ASATU, Chief Alex Onukwue.

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