The Federal Government of Nigeria will commence the dredging of the Escravos water channel, which connects the Atlantic to Warri Port, to enable bigger vessels to sail to the port before the end of this year.
This was made known recently by Hadiza Bala Usman, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) during a high powered delegation meeting between the Board/Management staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Delta Ports Stakeholders Association at the NPA Headquarters in Marina, Lagos State.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Delta Ports Stakeholders Association and Warri South LGA Chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Oghomienor Emiko, noted with dismay the moribund nature of the Warri ports and called for the rejuvenation of the Warri Ports for the immense benefit of not only the Niger Delta region but Nigeria at large.
“At this crucial time in the country’s economy when we are seeking diversification, the government needs to formulate a policy framework to make the moribund Delta port viable again. The Warri port and other ports in Delta State can create over 100,000 direct jobs and 500,000 indirect jobs, when fully utilized,” Oghomienor said.
Responding, the Managing Director of NPA Hadiza Bala Usman thanked the Delta Ports Stakeholders Association for their timely visit and noted that the Warri Port, which will soon commence full operations, is strategic to the development of the Niger Delta, hence its full utilization is paramount to the Federal Government. She further informed the group that the dredging of the Escravos channel would commence before the end of this year (2017) to allow for larger vessels to sail into the Warri Ports and the Delta Stakeholders Association will play a major role for peace and security.
“The Warri Ports and other ports in Niger Delta are strategic to the overall development of the Niger Delta and as such the Federal Government will commence the dredging of the Escravos/Warri channel before the end of this year to allow larger vessels sail into the Warri and other ports in Delta. However, no development can be achieved in the absence of peace and security. As such, all should be done to preserve the existing peace in the Niger Delta region,” she said
Those present at the visit included Mr Oghomienor Emiko (Chairman, Delta Ports Stakeholders Association), Mr David Iwere (Adviser), Mr Mewe Tommy (Secretary), Mr. Oritsema Olley (Treasurer), Mr Duris Orugbo (member), Prince Tosan (Publicity Secretary), and Barr Ken.
