The Managing Director of the Goldlink Investment Limited, Sir Tony Anakebe has faulted the statement credited to the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi claiming that investment in the nation’s river ports is a waste of public funds.
Anakebe who faulted the comment in a chat with Primetime Reporters in Lagos on Wednesday described the Minister’s comment as unacceptable even as he demanded an apology from the Minister for making such a reckless statement.
According to him,” It is unfortunate that a whole Minister should go to that extent. I think within the West African sub region, we can vouch for many smaller countries that feed themselves through the ports and even in the airline sector, you definitely know that Ethiopia as a country, the major source of their revenue is through proceeds from airline and that is their major IGR base.
“I don’t know why our Minister should go to the extent of saying that investment in River ports is a waste of resources because I know that as far as Nigeria is concerned, in the past ten to fifteen years, our port is the second highest revenue earner for the country. So, I wonder why he should make such comment which I considered to be reckless.
“I believe he has to apologise because as at last year, customs raked in over one trillion naira which is still the best among revenues generated in other sectors of the economy as at now. I think he should withdraw that statement and allow room for the development of more river ports. The country needs more ports now than most of these infrastructures that they are investing money in which is not yielding money compared to the ports in the country.”
On the position of the Minister that for river ports to effectively function in Nigeria, the River Niger needed to be dredged up to 6 metres draft, Anakebe who is also a chieftain of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said, “As far as I am concerned, there is nothing that the government wants to do that it cannot do with regards to dredging of River Niger, even dredging of River Benue. The government has the capacity to dredge the Rivers Niger and Benue, so, I don’t think that should be a hindrance because if it is properly managed, if we have a well-coordinated contract in respect of that, it must be done and it can be achieved.
“If you close Onitsha river port or Calabar port or Warri port, then what are we talking about? The country solely depends on importation, so, there is need for us to expand and go into the hinterland and let people get their goods as quickly as possible. I am of the opinion that neglect of the river ports and other seaports in the country encourages corruption at the existing ports because if all these port are put to use and people are patronizing them, each and every terminal will sit up and try to beat the others because there will be competition which will ultimately bring down the cost of clearing.
“But if the Minister is telling us that the government cannot dredge rivers Niger and Benue, it is not acceptable.”
Amaechi was quoted as saying on a television programme recently while answering question on why the multi-billion naira Baro river port is yet to commence operation two years after its commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari that construction of river ports across the country is a waste of public funds as they are not viable projects, a statement which has attracted various comments from the industry stakeholders.
Photo: The Managing Director of Goldlink Investment Limited, Sir Tony Anakebe.
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