Why Importers abandon Eastern Ports

ABIOLA Seun |

Operators at Eastern Ports are yet to heave any sigh of relief as incessant pirate attacks, sea robberies and shallow draft have been attributed to reasons why importers failed to import through the Eastern port.

Speaking recently at a stakeholders’ meeting, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and stakeholders in the maritime industry decried incessant attacks on vessels by pirates on the country’s waterways.

The Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello, said that the NPA is collaborating with the Nigerian Navy to provide security for vessels.

According to her, the narrow and shallow Bonny Channel did not help matters as it made Nigeria Liquefied Gas vessels passing through it susceptible to attacks by pirates.

The Managing Director emphasized the need to dualise the channel to allow two vessels to pass through it at the same time.

She however said the dualisation would involve the Federal Ministry of Transport, NPA and others.

But stakeholders had earlier noted that there was the need to address the insecurity challenge at the port as a matter of urgency.

“During one of the attacks, crew members ran into the engine room to hide while the vessel floated’’, describing the situation as “risky’’.

According to the stakeholders, the management should also tackle the dredging and dualisation of the Bonny Channel.

The stakeholders said some importers had diverted their ships to the Republic of Benin to discharge their cargoes; a situation they said had caused loss of revenue to the Federal Government.