By Folashade Alli
The Federal Government has announced that the Kirikiri Terminal 1 in Lagos has been changed to a Fishing Terminal in order to boost economic activities and promote the well being of Nigerians.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed this at a forum organised to mark the World Maritime Day in Calabar.
Senator Umar noted that plans had reached an advanced stage for concession of the terminal to a private investor for fishing purposes.
“As a measure of ensuring protection of Marine Biodiversity, plans have reached at advanced stage to concession the Kirikiri Terminal 1 as a dedicated Fishing Terminal to enhance economic activities and promote the health and well being of the citizens of this country”, he stated.
The Senator who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, in the ministry, Engr. Nebolisa Emordi, explained that the Fishing Terminal was part of the recommendations of the Presidential Maritime Retreat held last year aimed at regulating the country’s fishing industry.
Adding that the government lifeline aimed at assisting indigenous operators, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), would soon be disbursed to only six beneficiaries whose applications had scaled through the processes.
In the same vein, according to him, the other river ports of Baro in Niger State, Oguta in Imo State and Lokoja, Kogi State would be concessioned to private operators upon their completion by next year.
Also speaking, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, represented by his deputy, Engr. Effiong Ebong, decried the state of shipping in the country, lamenting on the dominance of foreigners in the industry.
Imoke however called on the Federal Government to go beyond the institution of the Cabotage Law and Nigerian Maritime Administration andSafety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure that Nigerians were well empowered to participate in the lifting cargoes in the country.