Reviving Oseakwa Seaport Will Encourage Nigeria's GDP Growth - Hon Pascal Agbodike

The House of Representatives Member for Ihiala Federal Constituency (APGA), Hon. Dr Pascal Agbodike has called on the federal government to revive the abandoned Oseakwa Seaport at Ihiala Local Government Area in Anambra State.

This he said during Tuesday's plenary will increase potentials in the Maritime Sector for Economic Growth of Nigeria.

Moving the motion titled: Need to Harness the Potentials in the Maritime Sector for Economic Growth and Revive the abandoned Oseakwa Seaport at Ihiala Local Government Area in Anambra State, Hon. Paschal noted that Nigeria's GDP growth is mainly dependent on the contributions of the oil and gas sector, hence there is a critical need for diversification of the country's revenue base.

He said " Maritime Industry provides the government with the right platform to diversify the economy, and if properly harnessed, it has great potential to generate huge revenue from both Local and International transportation of persons and goods by water as approximately 80 per cent of the shipping business done on the coast of West Africa is done in Nigeria.

"Oseakwa Sea Port at Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State established before Nigeria's independence and was a major route for transportation in the old Eastern region, but it became moribund after the civil war.

"that compared to the Lagos Seaport which is 60 nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean, Oseakwa

Seaport is only 18 nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean, which, by implication, is a closer and more viable route for shipping goods from China and other countries"

Speaking further, Hon. Pascal litrated that the Oseakwa Seaport, when revived, will create over two million jobs, directly and indirectly, in marine business, oil and gas, power, education, housing, agro-food industry, entertainment and tourism among others, thus generating huge revenue and boosting the nation's economy.

After thoroughly looking at and considering the importance of the motion, the House adopted the motion.