PRESIDENT of the Delta Shippers Association (DELSA) Mr. Edema Abrakata says that ports in Delta State are safe for ships to come in and discharge their cargoes and, therefore, called on both local and international investors to utilize the ports.

Speaking at the 2008 Annual General Meeting/Seminar of the association in Warri, he commended the efforts of the state government to dualise the Koko and Ughelli/Asaba roads, noting that the project when completed would boost the economy of the state.

He also applauded the inclusion of the dredging of the River Niger in the 2009 budget but called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before execution.

He urged the Federal Government to encourage citizens' participation in the project, stressing that it would go a long way in facilitating the project. The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Shippers' Council, Captain Audu Adamu Biu (rtd) in his address said exploiting the opportunities inherent in Delta Ports would mark concrete steps in actualizing the desire of the stakeholders to take the nation's maritime to enviable heights.

Adamu said the management of Nigerian Shippers' Council was quite pleased with the activities of the Delta Shippers Association in promoting issues affecting the carriage of cargo and the development of the maritime sector of the economy generally.

He stated that building the nation goes beyond ordinary desire but required sacrifice and serious commitment from both the government and the citizenry generally.

Adding, for us to really have a strong competitive edge in the international market, we must commit ourselves in the up-lifting of the maritime industry. Represented by the Deputy Director (Zonal Services) Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Maureen Ilejetoh, Audu said the council continue to give the shippers associations within the country support to be able to meet regularly so that we could collectively address the problems confronting the shippers.

In his paper entitled, "Exploitation of Shipping Opportunities in the Niger Delta: Carriage of Dry and Wet Cargo", Mr. Godwin Tosanwumi called for the establishment of tank farms or fuel deports saying that it would enhance the distribution of wet cargo in form of refined petroleum products.

Mr. Tosanwumi posited that to grow the dry cargo sector, entrepreneurs must engage themselves in the Agro-Allied and Small/Medium Scale Industries to generate cargo in the form of raw materials and semi processed goods for export.