A number of abandoned fishing
terminals located in Akwa Ibom State may bounce back soon, if the Federal
Government’s promise to revamp them works as planned.
terminals located in Akwa Ibom State may bounce back soon, if the Federal
Government’s promise to revamp them works as planned.
The planned development was
disclosed by a Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Niger Delta Affairs,
Sen. Ita Enang, after he toured some of the facilities at Akai Ebughu and Ibaka
terminals both in Mbo Local Government Area of the state.
Enang, however, said that the
government would require about N100 billion to achieve the goal of revamping
the fishing terminals, with a design that the project would drive job provision
from the non-oil sector of the economy.
government would require about N100 billion to achieve the goal of revamping
the fishing terminals, with a design that the project would drive job provision
from the non-oil sector of the economy.
He promised that some remedial
work would begin at the terminals to revive business activities pending when
the complete project would take off.
work would begin at the terminals to revive business activities pending when
the complete project would take off.
His words: “Part of our effort is
to make sure that the economic potential of Nigeria in the sea, including
agriculture, fishing, port activities and all things that can engage citizens
of this country as well as generating revenue for the economy are activated.
to make sure that the economic potential of Nigeria in the sea, including
agriculture, fishing, port activities and all things that can engage citizens
of this country as well as generating revenue for the economy are activated.
“We are assessing the state of
these multipurpose terminals which were initially conceived, planned and
constructed primarily as fishing terminals but it is for all kinds of vessels
and all economic activities.
these multipurpose terminals which were initially conceived, planned and
constructed primarily as fishing terminals but it is for all kinds of vessels
and all economic activities.
“These terminals, when activated,
can take care of the economic challenges of this country, which include fishing
and all kinds of import, which would create employment.”
can take care of the economic challenges of this country, which include fishing
and all kinds of import, which would create employment.”
According to Enang, the project
assessment was to enable interested investors appreciate the potential of the
facilities, to deepen their interest into action.
assessment was to enable interested investors appreciate the potential of the
facilities, to deepen their interest into action.
“The essence of this visit is to let investors
see the potential here; some of the investors that can be interested in
investing in this terminal are those who are building trawlers, ships and other
sea going vessels.
see the potential here; some of the investors that can be interested in
investing in this terminal are those who are building trawlers, ships and other
sea going vessels.
“We have to show them the
facilities which they could use in ship building.
facilities which they could use in ship building.
“Others could be interested in operating in
this port for the purpose of going into the Atlantic Ocean to fish all kinds of
marine life that are of export quality and can be used here,” he said.
this port for the purpose of going into the Atlantic Ocean to fish all kinds of
marine life that are of export quality and can be used here,” he said.
Enang said that the Federal
Government was determined to boost security at the high sea and coastal areas
to curtail the activities of sea pirates at Ibaka seaports.
Government was determined to boost security at the high sea and coastal areas
to curtail the activities of sea pirates at Ibaka seaports.
He said that government was also
working out modalities for alleviating the plight of the people in the coastal
area.
working out modalities for alleviating the plight of the people in the coastal
area.
Representative of the Deputy
Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-agege, who was in the entourage, Mr. Azuka
Agbihi, pledged the commitment of the National Assembly to ensure the actualisation
of the project.
Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-agege, who was in the entourage, Mr. Azuka
Agbihi, pledged the commitment of the National Assembly to ensure the actualisation
of the project.
Speaking on behalf of the people,
the President of Oro Union, Mr. Etim Atteh, commended President Muhamadu Buhari
for sending the team to assess the abandoned terminal.
the President of Oro Union, Mr. Etim Atteh, commended President Muhamadu Buhari
for sending the team to assess the abandoned terminal.
Atteh expressed hope that the
federal government revamped the fishing terminals soon, in order to revive the businesses
in the fishing and related areas for economic growth.
federal government revamped the fishing terminals soon, in order to revive the businesses
in the fishing and related areas for economic growth.
