Minister urged to probe activities of Ibeto Jetty, Rivers Port

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been asked to probe the activities of Ibeto Jetty and Rivers Port to ensure a level playing field for all players according to the law.
Making the call, the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC), posited that thier activities have diverted the government revenues which run into billions of naira while shortchanging the legitimate registered dock workers of their wages.
The Centre’s Executive Director of Media, Comrade Jacob Okpanachi, said unregistered dock workers are currently operating foreign vessels.
“We want to publicly share with Nigerians our feelings, frustrations and pains about the happenings in Rivers Port, which the NPA seems to have turned a blind eye to,” Okpanachi said.
“In the past year, we have received several petitions from concerned Nigerians on the alleged illegal labour operations at the Ibeto Jetty.
“The arrangement stems from the erroneous approval granted to Ibeto Jetty to operate as a port, as a result of the disingenuous advice of the former Port Manager, through the former Executive Director of Marine and Operations.
“We need to know the rationale behind the decision to allow unregistered dock workers to operate foreign vessels at a private Jetty while denying the government its through-put/ berthing fees and also under declaration of tonnage.”