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A major key player in the maritime industry, Engr. Captain Briggs Opunabo Dokubo, has urged the Rivers State government, led by Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, to focus more on the maritime industry and fashion out a deliberate policy, conducive and attractive for more vessels to berth at both the Rivers and Onne ports.
Fielding questions from newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt recently, Captain Briggs said, will attract more revenue to the state and making both ports, which are almost dormant, to bounce back into full commercial use, just like what is obtainable in Lagos ports.
He said the reason, most importers and maritime operators prefer to use Lagos Ports is because, beside the ports being safe for operational wise, the Lagos state government deliberately ensured that the issue of high tariffs and double port taxation are relatively reduced. The advantages, which are overwhelming, bring in revenue to the state government and create job opportunities for the teeming youths in Lagos State. .
The maritime expert, who is also a frontline politician, noted that Rivers State should endeavour to copy same and create synergy with major players in oil and gas sector who spend so much on logistics to ferry both human and materials resources from their corporate head office in Lagos to their operational base in Port Harcourt, so as to reduce their expense on logistics and cost.
He also advised that the government should consider bringing into the picture, some form of partnership with credible indigenous companies in the maritime industry so as to fashion out laudable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the rural communities where they operate. This in turn will create harmonious relationship between the companies and the rural areas where they operate, he said.
“Once this is done, the ports in the state will bounce back into full utilization, safety will be ensured for maritime operators, job created for the army of unemployed youths in the state and the state’s internal generating revenue (IGR) will receive a boost, because revenue in form of taxes will come into the state purse,” Captain Briggs noted.
He, however, showered encomium on the governor, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, “for been patriotic enough to continue with some of the unfinished projects of his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and also successfully completing most of the projects within two years in office.
“Governor Wike’s road projects are felt in almost every LGA’s in the state, in addition to schools and hospital structures which are having face-lift in the state. This is remarkable, especially when viewed against the lean resources accruable to the state from the federation account,” Captain Briggs said.
He advised the governor to hit the ground running for his next two years in office, by creating a laudable industrial policy that would give at least one industry to each local government area based on their comparative advantage.
However, following the rise in youth-related violence in the state, and the seeming preference for membership of cult groups by some youths, Captain Briggs advocated for the return of the study of civics to the school curriculum for both primary and secondary schools in the state, so that youths can be taught the value of life.
