‘Nigeria needs new port to compete with Cotonou’

The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, on Friday called for the establishment of a special port to compete with the Cotonou port in Benin Republic.
Anyanwu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Lagos.
The lawmaker noted that most of the goods imported through Cotonou port ended up in Nigeria.
According to him, many shippers are attracted by incentives provided by ports in the neighbouring country.

“We want to see the possibility of government introducing incentives for policy changes that will help our ports to be shippers’ friendly.
“We are also to encourage the Nigerian Ports Authority to look at how we can encourage diversification of the economy through export,’’ Anyanwu told NAN.
He said that there was the need to ensure that empty containers returned with exportable goods to boost exports.
Anyanwu said that the committee had received several complaints from numerous port agencies on impediments to cargo clearance.
The lawmaker stressed the need to encourage export in order to provide more jobs for the teeming youths and earn foreign exchange to improve the economy.