Revenue: Senate to investigate inactivity in Calabar port, others

The Senate Committee on Marine Transport is set to commence investigation into factors impeding full maritime and other economic activities at the Calabar Port.

Vice-Chairman of the committee, Sen. Ahmed Ogembe, made this known in an interview with our reporter on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the committee would also do an on-the-spot assessment of the port, adding that in spite of its importance to the economy of the country it had not been given the priority it deserved.

Ogembe decried that revenue accruing to the Federation from maritime sub-sector was not at its maximum, adding that dredging of the Calabar Port ought to have been completed for economic activities to commence fully.

He said that maritime sub-sector was capable of boosting the country’s revenue and fund part of the country’s annual budget if properly explored.

“Some of the ports are not operating at full capacity because the terminal operators that are supposed to be in charge of the running of the ports did not bring anything to the port when it was “concession’’ to them.

“They have their own corporate responsibility but they are not living up to expectation. That is why we are commencing investigation on them and we will try to bring everybody to their toes to see how these things can be corrected.

“We are working on the Calabar Port especially.

“The committee intends to carry out oversight investigation as well in order to make proper recommendations to the management of NPA and let them see reasons why that place needs to work.

“As part of our responsibility to make sure that the port works, we felt provisions made for the project by NPA in the 2017 Budget is grossly inadequate.

“We have made some recommendations to the agency and I hope the management will look into it.

“If it does not, we will do our job as a committee to make sure that funds are allocated to the Calabar Channel so they can resume work in terms of dredging.

“Not only is Calabar Port viable, it is a gateway to the North- East and North-Central and South-South,’’ he said.

The lawmaker further said that the committee would embark on the oversight visit as soon as the National Assembly resumed from its Easter break.

“We have some information about what is going on there; all we have to do is to compare notes, go down there, see for ourselves and write our report.

“The report would serve as our own recommendation from the Senate to the executive that this is what needed to be done so that that place can be fully operational.

“Some of the information available to us about the project is that it is not being funded; for whatever reason we don’t know.

“My guess might be wrong but I think it is political. We pray that politics be put aside and we do whatever we can to make sure that place is functional because Nigeria comes first before any politics.

“Also from our findings, there are lots of conspiracies but the Senate will never allow that to happen; we will do our best, we will do our job and make proper recommendations,’’ he added.

The vice chairman also said a similar investigation would be carried out on other relevant projects like the dredging of River Niger and River Benue.

According to him, the country is in dire need of revenue to fund its budgets and meet other obligations and as such, relevant areas ought to be explored.

He pointed out that beyond ensuring implementation of projects, the committee was working with NPA to ensure that leakages were blocked and appropriate terminal dues paid among, other things.

“I commend the new management of NPA because it is working hard and also carrying members of the committee along.

“Our sea ports are messed up because there are lots of revenue leakages and we are doing everything to block it because it is a mess. I can’t lie to you.

“We got some information that some ships berth and offload without paying a dime to NPA.

“We will investigate that as well and come up with the report for Nigerians to know what is going on in the ports,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also said that the senate was already working on bills to re-position the sector, adding that the place of legislation could not be overruled in making sure right things were done.

He said “with the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is vital for stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to help in boosting the economy.

“If all the ports in the country work at maximum capacity, for instance, it will boost economic activities and allow for ease of doing business, especially in the exportation and importation of goods.

“It will also create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed Nigerians and open more doors for trans-national trade between Nigeria and other countries.’’

In a separate interview, Chairman, Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Sen. Ali Wakili called on the Federal Government to pay adequate attention to the maritime sector.

Wakili, a former Controller of Customs, said if properly explored, the sector had the capacity to alleviate poverty by creating jobs for Nigerians.

He emphasised the need to implement relevant policies to boost economic activities in all sea ports, adding that if all the ports were fully operational, thousands of Nigerians would be off the street.

“Globally, especially in developed countries, where issue of revenue in terms of maritme zone is very important, the issue of ports authority is taken seriously.

“Ports are gateways to every nation’s economy because it is through them that ships sail, ships arrive, goods are discharged and the economy of the nations are strengthened, that is through importation and exportation.

“So it is very vital that the sea ports are strengthened.

“Some 20 years ago, the sea ports through the Nigerian Ports Authority were concession to some private investors for added value and better technology.

“This was so that the time for the clearance and discharge of goods from the cargoes are shortened and for a more business friendly environment among others.

“Before then most of our cargoes discharged along neighbouring countries in the West Coast like Cotonou, Togo and some other countries for ease.

“Unfortunately, up to the time I left the port and even now it not yet uhuru, though I know my sister, Hadiza Usman, is doing everything to make the ports work maximally,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also made reference to the importance of the Calabar Port to national development.

He said that the port had been under-utilised because the water was not deep enough for big ships to sail through, adding that only certain level of tonnage ship could sail and anchor there.

According to him, unless the port is dredged, bigger ships cannot sail, thereby chasing investors away.

Wakili further noted that a lot of economic activities went on in Lagos because of the port and that if such could be replicated in other ports the country’s revenue would be boosted.

“You can remember my sister, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, was looking for a certain percentage of VAT; it was because most of the goods come from Lagos and Lagos needs help.

“So, if given the needed attention, the Calabar Port, with the Export Processing Zone, Tinapa and other projects already on ground, the congestion in Lagos would be reduced.

“Donald Duke had in the Tinapa project, a great foresight of not only placing Calabar and Cross River, but Nigeria, on a good economic pedestal.

“We have gone to Tinapa to see the investment he made and we know he gave his best to see that we have potential in terms of exportation to diversify our economy long time ago.

“So, you like him or you hate him, he has done his best in that direction.

“For instance, given the number of palm plantations in the state, he established the Export Processing Zone to allow others to manufacture goods for export.

“Unfortunately, because the port is very shallow, some of his ambitions have not been realised. But, government is a continuum and we can carry on from where he stopped,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also called for resumed dredging of River Niger and River Benue, adding that they would complement the sea ports and ensure that cargoes were taken closer to the hinterland.

According to him, it will decongest the main ports and jump-start economic activities in the hinterland.