Explain To Us Why Sea Ports In Our Region Not Working, Group Challenges FG

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Following what could be described as moribund sea ports in their region, a group known as the Niger Delta Support group, (NDSG) has challenged the Nigerian government to as a matter of urgency and importanance give to it what it called ‘detailed’ explanation on the state of seaports in the Niger Delta region, and why they are not functioning like the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.

The group while mentioning some of the moribund ports in the region to include the Delta port in Warri, Rivers port, Onne and Calabar port, expressed worries whether there is high level of conspiracy to deliberately undermine and sabotage port activities in the region and while projecting Lagos as the only viable port for cargo vessels.

In a statement signed by the convener of the group, Vincent Udume Odogbor JP, shortly after its enlarged meeting Monday in its headquarters in Warri, and made available to Journalists, noted that the call for the optimal utilization of other existing seaports in the Niger Delta is for the good of the entire country as it will reduce the cumbersome process of clearing goods that takes several weeks in Lagos as a result of the congestion of Lagos ports and the attendant traffic gridlock.

“The opening of other sea ports besides the creation of employment in states they are located also will reduce the cost of transportation of goods from Lagos to every part of the country. Studies have shown that amongst others, excessive unemployment (the worst compared to other regions) in the Niger Delta is a main causal factor of youth unrest, militancy and criminalization in the region.

“It is therefore unthinkable that seaports in the region continue to remain dysfunctional while Lagos ports are overstretched. This is a classic example of the regional and citizenship inequality which remain the bane of our political existence as Nigeria and it can’t be allowed to continue anymore. Nigeria should belong equally to everyone who is a Nigerian and everyone should be treated equally as such.

“We thus hereby reiterate our earlier calls for restructuring of Nigeria that: We want the country restructured immediately to avail every region the right to resource control and self-development rather living at the mercy of a bogus federal government. We demand for state police to provide adequate community safety and protection of lives as nobody can protect our property and lives better than us. We can’t continue to expect police protection from a federal Government that cannot police its federal capital.

“We also most demand fiscal federalism. We urge all politicians paying lip-service to restructuring in their bid for the 2019 elections to stop their antics forthwith and engage the region seriously on restructuring. The Niger Delta people are intellectuals, entrepreneurs, professionals in different fields who can harness economic resources if the principles of true fiscal federalism is practiced as should be the case in a federal state like Nigeria.

“As NIDSG, we are unrelenting in our pursuit to see that our seaports and other related issues raised here are attended to and we shall continue to engage every legal and political means available to us to tackle this challenges head on. There is nothing more demeaning than being a second class citizen in your own country, and there is nothing more provocative as not being able to have access to and control of your own resources while everyone else has a field day.” the group stated.

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