The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) have advocated the need for the Federal Government to urgently relocate the mega dry dock to the Niger Delta where it was initially intended to be.

The groups want the dry dock moved from Lagos waters, where it had been lying unused.

They spoke while rising from a special webinar meeting chaired in Lagos to mark the 93rd birthday of PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, and x-ray the Niger Delta economy after the lockdown. The Niger Delta leaders stated that the shipbuilding dry dock, which is the largest in Africa, would be the ideal enterprise for President Muhammadu Buhari to commission in the post COVID-19 Nigerian economy.

UNDEDSS Executive Secretary and General Secretary of PANDEF, Tony Uranta, explained that the benefits of the dock to the region would be immeasurable considering the Maritime University in Delta.

“Relocating the dry dock project to the Niger Delta would be the biggest invest-ment post COVID-19 in the region and would open up the economy of the region,” he said.

The House of Representatives had, in March 2020, urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to return and install the floating dock acquired at a cost of over N50 billion in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of utmost urgency, direct the installation of the floating dock at Okerenkoko, the location that was decided upon by the government as the operational base of the maritime facility.

They reminded the authorities that Nigeria was paying over N4 billion annually as demurrage charges where it was parked.

It would be recalled that the dock, since its arrival in the country on June 11, 2018, had been in a storage cart, owing to controversial bureaucratic wrangling over where it would be located as its operational base.

The House urged NIMASA to abide by all the terms and conditions precedent to the acquisition of the floating dock with a view to ensuring that the dock was put into operation forthwith in Okerenkoko.

Uranta said the Okerenkoko floating dock project was duly considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council at its 37th meeting on October 23, 2013, adding that the approval was conveyed to the Federal Ministry of Transport on October 29, 2013.

“The location of the dry dock to Badagry in Lagos State is contrary to the initial approval by the Federal Government for its location in Delta.

“Our appeal is that the dry dock should be moved permanently, installed, and commissioned in Delta, considering the contributions of the region to the nation’s economy.

“The dry dock is lying fallow in the waters of Lagos State and should be taken to Delta, next to the maritime university to provide practical knowledge to the students.

“The dry dock, if located in the Niger Delta, will open up the region and make it more viable, including the employment it will generate and the trainings on ship building processes,” he said.

He disclosed that the meeting had set up a committee to be chaired by Prof. Pat Utomi to look at its institutions, state leaderships, and contributions of its elected members in the National Assembly to the development of the region.

“We are going to begin to study more rigorously, the daily records of how many bills promoted by the region’s representatives at the National Assembly.

“Our focus will also be on state governments and its ministries in the region to ascertain utilisation of statutory funds to cut down corruption,” he said.

He also said the coalition was appealing for more palliatives to the Niger Delta to keep it robust and assist its people whose lands were no longer viable for farming due to its abuses occasioned by excavation and explorations.

Uranta said the region remained a cash cow for the nation, pointing out that whilst oil prices had crashed, gas prices had risen.

He reiterated the groups’ position supporting the Federal Government’s ordered audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) and for the Ogoni Oil clean-up.

He urged governors of the region to step up action for internal security of their states. (Daily Independent)

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