Senate urges FG to establish inland ports in Onitsha, Enugu, others

The Senate has urged the Federal Government carry out a feasibility study with the aim of establishing inland ports in Onitsha, Enugu, Aba, Bauchi, Maiduguri and other land-locked states in the country to accelerate commerce and ensure speedy recovery of the economy.
It urged government to direct the Nigerian Shippers Council to carry out the exercise, while it also mandated  its committees on Transport and works to ensure full compliance with planned establishment of Inland Ports in the designated parts  of the country.
The Senate also took into cognizance the fact that those  Inland Ports that have had feasibility studies done on them for establishment of inland waterways Ports should be revisited.
These resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Stella Odua (Anambra North).
In her motion titled ‘Need for the Establishment of Dry and Inland Ports at Onitsha, Enugu and other land-locked states’, Senator Odua said the development of dry ports and inland water transport in Onitsha, Aba and other land-locked areas would facilitate commercial and industrial activities in export and importation of raw materials and equipment as a major component.
She noted that the existing maritime Ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar are being over stretched and that the congestion of these Ports constitute serious security threat to lives and property, especially now that there is heightened concern at crowded locations.
The Anambra-born politician lamented that due to congestion in the existing Maritime Ports and the bureaucracy associated with the clearing of goods, a lot of precious time which would otherwise have been committed to other productive economic engagement is often wasted.
The lawmaker noted that there have been causes of avoidable loss of lives and destruction of goods due to movement by road of containers and heavy equipment carrying trucks, adding that the situation has led to stagnation of economic growth and lack of access to global market.
She expressed optimism that creation of these alternative Ports would enhance trade, industries, Export and import within these zones, noting that bottom-up economic growth would give rise to global access and job creation.
Odua’s motion enjoyed overwhelming support of the Senators present at yesterday’s plenary.
Speaking on the motion for which he also commended Senator Odua for bringing to fore, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, directed the relevant committees of the Senate to ensure that the Federal government gives priority attention to establishment of the inland Ports in the affected states.