Shippers Association President Akpaka wants South East governors show interest in Onitsha Port

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President, Anambra State Shippers Association, Hon. Emma Akpaka

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

Governors of South East zone of the country have been asked to show more than passing interest in the refurbished Onitsha River Port to encourage business men in the zone to patronise the facility.

The President of the Anambra State Shippers Association, Hon. Emma Akpaka, who made call in Onitsha, Anambra State commercial hub, particularly requested the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Souludo, to officially visit the Port complex.

He contended that Soludo’s visit to the Port would encourage the stakeholders and inspire more commercial activities at the Port.

The president reminded the relevant agencies at the Port that what is needed now is that they encourage activities at the Port, not discouragement.

But he appealed to the stakeholders in shipping business to play by the rules by strictly adhering to shipping guidelines.

Akpaka had lamented that since the Onitsha Poet was built by late President Shehu Shagari administration and recommissioned in 2012 by the then President Goodluck Jonathan, the Port sadly has not worked from that time to 2017.

He said what made the United African Company (UAC) and other companies like John Holt, SCOA among others viable in Eastern Region then was that they imported through the Onitsha River.

The president expressed joy that former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned it again and since then it has been moving from strength to strength.

He said: “But remember the success story of this port cannot be complete until you patronise it. So, what are you waiting for. For how long shall we wait for to patronise us”.
He reminded importers and stakeholders that if they don’t patronise the Port now, they should not complain of marginalisation.