How Stella Oduah’s 2016 Motion Influenced FG’s Concession Of Onitsha Inland Port

Senator representing Anambra North, South-East Nigeria, Stella Oduah’ 2016 motion on the need for the establishment of dry and inland ports in Onitsha, Enugu and other States in the South East Nigeria, has bore fruits with the recent decision of the Federal Government on the concession of the Onitsha Inland Port.

Gatekeepers News reports that Oduah had in November 2016, raised the motion which led to a unanimous resolution by the Senate. The Federal Government was charged to urgently establish such inland ports to help accelerate commerce and industry in Onitsha and other affected states.

The Senator had explained how the development of dry ports and inland water transport in Onitsha would facilitate commercial and industrial activities in exportation and importation of raw materials and equipment.

She also stated how the existing ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar were being overstretched, contending that congestion of these ports constituted serious security threats to lives and properties.

The motion yielded result when the Federal Government signed an agreement with Universal Elysium Consortium Limited for the concession of the Onitsha Inland Port.

Gatekeepers News reports that the same day the signing ceremony took place, the Calabar port equally came alive as a general cargo vessel berthed with 240 heavy-duty trucks, 22 cubic metres of pipes and other containers.

“These recent events events clearly show that the 2016 motion by Senator Stella Oduah, did not fall on deaf ears and as it stands, Onitsha, Anambra North and indeed Anambra State and it’s environs are poised for a wave of economic development like never before seen and we must thank this present government for bringing to fruition a dream which was kick-started by a passionate plea by our very own Distinguished Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah OON,” her Media Aide said in a Saturday.