In different to compete favourably with contemporaries within the West and Central Africa, the federal authorities has unveiled plans to dredge the Warri Port in Delta State, Rivers Port and Onne Port in Rivers State, and Calabar Port in Cross River State to a minimal depth of 16 metres to accommodate bigger vessels and improve competitiveness within the Gulf of Guinea.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Financial system, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this in Abuja whereas receiving a delegation from the South South Growth Fee (SSDC), led by its managing director, Usoro Akpabio.
Oyetola mentioned the dredging would appeal to greater ships, cut back cargo dealing with prices, and increase commerce volumes, thereby decreasing the price of doing enterprise and rising authorities income.
He added that the ports would additionally bear modernisation beneath the federal authorities’s port growth programme.
In response to him, the South-South area stays pivotal in Nigeria’s quest to harness the total potential of the marine and blue economic system, given its strategic shoreline, seaports, and aquatic assets.
The minister additional revealed that the federal authorities was collaborating with state governments within the area to develop new deep seaports together with Agge in Bayelsa, Ibom in Akwa Ibom, Bakassi in Cross River, and Bonny in Rivers State to place Nigeria as a regional maritime hub.
Oyetola additionally urged state governments to leverage the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway for the event of coastal tourism, which he mentioned might generate sustainable earnings for communities, create jobs, and appeal to guests.
He highlighted the roles of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron and the Nigeria Maritime College in Okerenkoko in constructing human capability for the marine sector, including that the Ministry can be working to spice up fish manufacturing and cut back dependence on importation.
He referred to as on Nigerians to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting that the not too long ago permitted Nationwide Coverage on Marine and Blue Financial system gives a roadmap for sustainable ocean useful resource administration, job creation, and wealth technology.
Earlier, SSDC managing director Ms Akpabio recommended Oyetola’s management and pledged the fee’s partnership with the ministry’s to implement blue economic system tasks that may drive progress and enhance livelihoods within the South-South area.
She proposed the creation of a joint working staff between the Ministry and the Fee to make sure coordinated implementation of programmes throughout the area. She was accompanied on the go to by three members of the SSDC Board — Engr Chika Chinda, Rt Hon Larry Odey and Hon Tabitha Salah.
