ICRC assures resolution of identified challenges facing the N’Delta seaports
The Acting Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engineer Chidi Izuwa, has assured business operators and users of seaports in Rivers State that federal government would do everything possible to resolve key challenges frustrating their business activities.
While blaming the observed drop in activities on insecurity caused by sea pirates, ICRC boss disagreed the claims that high charges at the seaports in region were responsible for the low patronage.
In his keynote address during a recent working visit of the ports in Port Harcourt as part of his familiarization drive of establishments under concession deals to assess compliance levels of concessionaires with the agreements reached over the management of the infrastructure, he said government will continue to deliver enabling environments for businesses to grow.
According to him, “As an agency of the Federal Government, which takes custody of all concessionary agreements between the government the private sector and ensure efficient execution, we are here on a monitoring visit to see if those agreements are met”.
“The challenges they have are similar – the issue of dredging of the channels and low throughput in terms of economic activities. The port has been maintained by the concessionaires. The private companies have done investments in the port.
“More needs to be done on the development plan that was released by the government. Security is very important. If vessels are coming here and vessels and people are attacked, they will not want to come again.”
He added further that “This is a challenge that is affecting the ports in this region and not the issue of high charges. Security is a very expensive thing. It is important that we tell our people that without security, our businesses cannot prosper.”
Izuwah had in the last few weeks, toured several government establishments that are under concession management agreements with a view of finding out their challenges and also observing their levels of compliance to signed agreements.
