ljaw Group Petitions FG over Inactive Seaports in N’ Delta, Demand Reactivation

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The ljaw Progressive Union of Aborigines has petitioned the federal government through the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, demanding the urgent reactivation of the ports in the Niger Delta area, including Warri, Sapele, Burutu and Calabar Ports.

The petition is contained in a letter signed by Ikhide Ehighelua of the Ikhide Ehighelua & Co Chambers, which was addressed to the minister.

It was also and copied representatives of the people in the National Assembly,  including Senator Ede Dafinone, Senator Joel Onowhakpor, Senator Ned Nwoko, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Hon. Francis Waive and Hon. Nicholas Mutu.

Others that were copied imcluded: Hon. Julius Pondi,  Thomas Ereyitomi,  Nnamdi Ezechi, Ngozi Okolie,  Victor Nwokolo as well as the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The documented stated that successive governments had neglected and undermined the development of Warri and environs, stressing that neglect appears to be replicated across the Niger Delta region.

“We are solicitors acting on behalf of the registered trustees of ljaw Progressive Union of Aborigines hereafter referred to as our client and we write on their instructions as follows:

“Our clients are major stakeholders in the Niger Delta Affairs, especially as it relates to Warri and environs in Delta State.

“It has been observed by our clients that over the years, successive governments have neglected and undermined the development of Warri and environs, which same neglect appears to be replicated across the Niger Delta region,” the group stressed.

It argued that the contribution of the region to the economic wellbeing of the nation cannot be overemphasised, explaining that yet it appears that their reward has been neglect and more degradation.

“In time past, Sapele, Warri, Burutu and even Calabar used to be bustling port cities with thriving focal economies associated with movement of goods in and out of those ports.

“As we write, there is hardly any motorable road in and out of Warri, Sapele, and Burutu towns in all directions, which further worsens the state of the economic activities in these towns.

“Beyond these towns, there are smaller communities both on land and offshore locations which have become extremely worse off because of the neglect of the region,” the Ijaw group noted.

According to the group, the essence of the petition was to bring to the notice of the authorities the plight of the region, demanding that there was need for action to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the region.

“The object of our client in their correspondence is to draw your attention to the sore state of affairs in the area and to further demand immediate action aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the people in the region.

“It is aimed at reviving the region by the prompt refurbishment and reactivation of the various ports in the Niger Delta Region, to wit; the Sapele, Warri, Burutu, and Calabar ports.

“This call, according to our client, has become imperative because the non engagement of youths and local populace gainfully is a recipe for restiveness and strife.

“We count on you for your usual cooperation that in the next three months, we will begin to see positive changes in the regions,” it added.