Oguta River Port: SEREC Urges NPA To Action

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

T he Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has called on the federal government to end further delay of in developing the Oguta River Port to expand the nation’s port industry and national economy.

SEREC Head of Research, Fwd Eugene Nweke in a release said the Oguta River Port is bristling with economic potentials waiting to be tapped, and called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), to do something.

“The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) is urging the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to leverage its expertise and resources to drive the development of the Oguta River Port project in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria.

“This call to action is prompted by the policy thrusts of the NPA’s Managing Director, which emphasizes adding administrative impetus towards the evolution of modern ports regime centered on trade facilitation, effectiveness, and efficiency. Prompted by these policy thrusts, SEREC believes that the development of the Oguta River Port project is a crucial step towards achieving this vision”, Nweke said.

He stated that the Oguta River Port projectwhich he claimed “is currently 61% completed but abandoned”, has the potential to transform the region’s economy and promote trade facilitation.

“With its strategic location and vast potential, the Oguta River Port project has the potential to handle over 35% of marine business in Nigeria, create over 2 million jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the region.”

To support the development of the Oguta River Port project, SEREC proposed the following options for NPA’s consideration:

*Collaborate with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to join expertise and experience in managing inland waterways and ports.

*Offer technical assistance to NIWA in areas such as port operations, infrastructure development, and logistics management.

* Jointly advocate for funding and resources from the Federal Government to complete the project.

*Explore the concessioning model to attract private sector investment and expertise.

*Plan and develop infrastructure such as warehouses, storage facilities, and cargo handling equipment to support the port’s operations, and

*Provide regulatory guidance and support to ensure compliance with national and international port standards.

The SEREC chieftain said “By working together with NIWA and exploring these options, NPA can play a crucial role in driving the development of the Oguta River Port project forward, thereby supporting the Managing Director’s policy thrusts and contributing to the growth and development of the region’s economy.”