Former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has called for the strict enforcement of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements governing operations at the sea ports in Rivers State, stressing that adherence to these agreements is vital for the state's economic growth and national maritime security.
Speaking during a stakeholders' roundtable on maritime development held in Port Harcourt, Admiral Ibas emphasized that lax implementation and weak regulatory oversight have hindered the full potential of the ports in Onne, Port Harcourt, and Bonny.
"PPP arrangements were designed to boost efficiency, improve infrastructure, and attract long-term investment into our maritime sector. Unfortunately, we are seeing instances where operators fall short of their obligations without consequence," Ibas stated. "This undermines not only investor confidence but also the strategic economic interests of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole."
He noted that the Rivers ports are key to Nigeria’s regional trade competitiveness and can significantly ease congestion in Lagos ports if properly managed. Ibas urged both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Transportation to tighten monitoring mechanisms and ensure that private partners fulfill their contractual duties.
Highlighting issues such as dilapidated infrastructure, slow cargo handling, and insufficient security, Admiral Ibas called for a policy review to strengthen accountability clauses in existing agreements and future contracts.
The retired naval chief also appealed to the Rivers State Government to collaborate more actively with federal agencies and private stakeholders to position the ports as hubs of economic excellence and maritime innovation.