By Jeremiah Urowayino

WARRI—The member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Daniel Reyenieju has urged  the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) not to be distracted during ongoing dredging of both the Escravos and Warri Channels, accusing those who lost in the bidding for the dredging contract as sponsors of irrelevant protests.

The lawmaker who made this disclosure yesterday in Koko, noted that “any well-meaning individual and group should laud the effort of the Federal Government in approving and awarding the contracts for the dredging of both channels through NPA, for the simple fact that when the dredging is completed, the seaports in Warri, Koko, Sapele including Brutu will become functional.

“Those  that are currently raising issues over the process of contract award are paid agent-provocateurs who do not mean well for the Niger Delta, particularly when one of these institutional critics has woefully failed to properly execute the dredging of the Calabar Channels which contract it  earlier won”.

He appealed to the management of NPA to remain focused and should not be perturbed by the current ranting of paid protesters; ensuring that the dredging is completed within record time so that these seaports could start functioning optimally.

“The shameful tragedy of Lagos particularly the endless congestion usually experienced at the Apapa port and adjoining roads, and the attendant revenue loss to governments and users of the port and roads will drastically be reduced once the dredging is completed” said Reyenieju.”