Onwuka Calls for Dredging of Rivers Port

In a chat with journalists on Port Harcourt, Mr Onwuka said the shallow draft of the Rivers Port channel was affecting the number of vessels calling at the ports.

According to him, Rivers Port can only accommodate lighter vessels, especially those carrying bulk instead of big vessels with containerized Cargoes.

Mr Onwuka who scored Rivers Port location high, wondered why the government has not deemed it fit to dredge the port and improve port facilities like the expansion of port access road and other infrastructures.

“The location of this Port is good, banks are close here, in short most of the things we need to ensure a seamless maritime business is here but government is busy talking of developing Lekki Port, Badagry Port and others instead of improving on the one our fore fathers handed over to us.

“I am not against them developing new ports, but the Ministry of Marine and Blue economy should look towards this direction,” he submitted.

Continuing, Mr Onwuka said, “Apart from the expansion done around the Qay areas by Port and Terminal Management Company, this port, which is a premier port, has been like that over the years.

“The other day, I went to Onne to clear a container,  which ordinarily should have been here, imagine before the consignment could reach its destination, most of the items like glasses have broken into pieces due to bad road.

“The government should help us and by so doing, the federal government would boost its revenue generation base.”

Emphasizing on what he intends to do if elected, he said, “We will market the port actively with other stakeholders.”

Speaking on how he intends to achieve this, he said, “We will engage all the relevant stakeholders like Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, the Mines Industry and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), importers and shipping companies, among others.

“My team, the idealists, will make sure this facility works effectively. As we are marketing this port, we will market Ibeto Port because it is part of Area 1 and has modern facilities and a massive stacking area.

“We will go to Nnewi, Onitsha and Aba to canvas for importers to come. We will tell them why it is better to import through the Rivers Port instead of Lagos.

“Shipping companies will start to bring their vessels here; we must achieve that for the betterment of our members in particular and Nigeria in general,” Mr Onwuka insisted.

Piqued by the activities of some recalcitrant traders, who are bent to sabotage the efforts of the government agencies at the ports, especially the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by engaging in an unwholesome trade, Mr Onwuka, who is currently the Vice Chairman of  ANLCA  Area 1, said, “We are compliance association and due process  business men” and even to the extent that my colleagues see my office as CPC.”

“I told you I am a due process and compliance agent. We will enhance our relationship with the customs and other government agencies at the port to ensure agents comply with the fiscal policies of the federal government,” he added.

On his prospect of winning the election next month, he said, “Our team has done everything that needed to be done for us to emerge as the next chapter executive of ANLCA Area1 Port Harcourt.

“Let me advise our members, they should not vote for somebody that they will regret in future. We have integrity and accessibility. We are here 24/7 at the Port and we are ready to work.”