Port operators and the Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA) have appealed to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to take urgent steps to revive operations at the Warri and Koko ports, warning that continued inactivity is costing the region jobs and economic growth.
Speaking at WACCIMA’s Annual General Meeting in Warri, stakeholders described the current port situation as stagnant, despite recent claims of increased activity.
“We just come to sit down every day, nothing is happening. For the past three weeks I have been in Warri, and we have not seen a single vessel… Apart from tanker vessels, you cannot see anything,” lamented port agent Maxwell Etoroma, underscoring the lack of commercial ships calling at the facilities.
He dismissed suggestions that the ports are booming as misleading, adding:
“All those are just propaganda. People called me from Abuja and Port Harcourt saying Warri port is booming. But there is nothing here”.
At Koko Port, activity was described as similarly thin by Sir Chidi Njoku, leader of NPA’s Daily Berthing Meeting Committee in Warri. He cited recent dredging claims that have not translated into sustained commercial traffic.
“It may surprise you to know that some months ago they said they dredged that place (Escravos bar), and within months the same issue started again. Billions of naira gone… The only vessels we get are tankers carrying PMS. The real vessels that will affect the masses are not there,” Njoku said.
Despite the challenges, operators insisted that Delta’s ports have inherent advantages and called on NPA leadership under Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho to implement meaningful revival strategies.
“Warri and Koko have the best natural ports in this country. This is the safest port. We are ready to work. Most agents here have 40 to 50 years of experience,” Etoroma added.
WACCIMA officials and other stakeholders stressed that revitalising the ports would ease pressure on congested facilities in Lagos, create jobs, attract investment and expand trade across the South-South region.
They also urged federal authorities to address infrastructural constraints such as access roads, harbour draught challenges, insecurity and to provide incentives that would encourage shipping companies to patronise the Delta ports.
