Centralization of NPA in Lagos, other factors behind companies’ exit from Warri – ISRCA

The centralization of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos is among the key reasons for the disappearance of companies from Warri, Delta State, according to the National Coordinator of the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA), also known as “No Justice, No Peace.”

In a statement to our correspondent on Monday, Comrade (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen said the constant threat of violence in Warri has also hindered business operations. “It is a mistake these generations of youths should not make,” he noted.

He added that issues of dèvè a local term referring to exorbitant taxes and demands imposed on companies by community leaders have further contributed to the decline of businesses in the city.

ISRCA explained that companies operating in Warri were increasingly unable to receive raw materials directly from overseas. “To circumvent road transport costs and associated problems, including losses, damage to manufacturing materials, and risks involved, particularly when heavy-duty machinery is required to transport goods by road, these situations also necessitated their relocation to areas with accessible seaports,” the group stated.

The group argued that restoring full operations at the Warri seaport would not only generate employment for Nigerian youths and reduce insecurity but also attract industries back to the city. “It will facilitate the seamless flow of foreign goods and import services and experience a comprehensive industrial revolution, attracting industries back to the formerly thriving and vibrant era,” ISRCA said.

The group questioned whether the government genuinely prioritizes the development and transformation of citizens’ lives. It also urged the Delta State Governor to revamp the NPA in Warri, describing it as potentially the most significant achievement of his administration.

“Previous administrations failed to revive state-owned industries like the Asaba Textile Mill, Africa Timber and Plywood (AT&P) in Sapele, or establish new ones, instead adopting a governance pattern that recycles existing infrastructure and focuses solely on our natural resources,” Agberen said.

While acknowledging that the NPA is primarily under federal control, he emphasized that the Delta State Government has significant influence to ensure its smooth operations. “We have witnessed the roles of industrialization activities and their profound impact on the development of a place, with their vital roles in job creation, improving the standard of living of the people, and economic growth,” the group added.

ISRCA concluded by appealing to the state government to focus on industrialization rather than relying solely on infrastructural development, an area where previous administrations have fallen short. “As the world is evolving rapidly, people are beginning to question the actual cost of democracy in the absence of these integral elements that sum up governance. Governance encompasses a broader variety of areas where the majority of people are gainfully engaged and not solely reliant on the government for their decisions,” the group said.