By George Onah
With an aim to boosting marine transportation in the land the Federal Government has approved for immediate construction two new seaports in Okrika and Degema Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

The State Commissioner for Transport Mr. George Tolofari who disclosed the central government’s approval at the inaugural meeting of Marine Equipment Owners/Leasing Association, last weekend, said the state government had already purchased five modern ferry boats for lease to private investors.

To this end, he said the government had met with the various security agencies to patrol the waterways in it avowed fight to combat piracy and other criminal activities on the high seas and shoreline. Tolofari then appealed to the people of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the cabotage funds to develop themselves in the industry.

In furtherance of the fight against sea thieves, the state commissioner of police Mr. Suleiman Abba told the audience that the police needed more marine equipment and boats to tighten security along the waterways. Represented by the Police PRO Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, the commissioner said the police had already provided complaint boxes at strategic locations across Port Harcourt to get public reactions about the activities of its men.

Abba said the command was bent on sanitizing its ranks because steps had been taken “to expose the bad eggs within our midst” and urged other organizations to do same. On his part, chairman of the association Sir. Dan Harrison said the group was challenged by double taxation, collection of levies by unauthorised agencies, the activities of regulatory bodies and insecurity within the waterways.