The House of Representatives has asserted that the Nigerian maritime sector, regrettably, remained one of the great untapped economic reserves of the country.
The Green Chamber also said, operating and maintaining efficient and functional ports in the country will help to develop the economic potential of the communities where these ports are located and beyond.
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila gave this indications Thursday while declaring open the Public Hearing by the Ad Hoc Committee to Determine why the Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onne and Onitsha Inland Port Complexes are not being put to maximum use.
Gbajabiamila reiterated the priority of the House to get these ports working at their absolute best to create jobs, facilitate trade, attract investment and contribute to the steady growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
The Speaker who was represented by Peter Akpatason, House Deputy Majority Leader emphasized that, “it is the responsibility of this Committee to deliver a policy framework and make substantive proposals for legislative and executive action to drive the increased utilisation at these ports for the socio-economic benefit of the Nigerian people”.
While calling on stakeholders in the industry to assist the Committee in the execution of this urgent national assignment, he said, “it is from the collation and analysis of your various ideas and contributions, perspectives and expertise that the Committee will be able to make the right recommendations, and guide this House of Representatives in our efforts to support the full utilisation of these very important national assets and the actualisation of the very high ambitions we hold for our national economy”.
Yusuf Yakubu, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee in a welcome address, noted that the public hearing was organized to determine why some of the Port Complexes have continued to operate below their setting-up capacities.
Yakubu added that, “it also, seeks to question why, in spite of the many efforts of Government over the years, which have come by way of building more Port Complexes, concessioning and the complete involvement of the private sector in some aspects of operation in our nation’s maritime sub-sector, the congestion in the Lagos Port Complexes in Apapa and Tin Can Island still persists”.
James Kwen, Abuja
