Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North) has called for
the establishment of an inland container terminal in Onitsha, Anambra
State to enhance production.
Speaking at the interactive session of the Committee
on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, she emphasized
the need to encourage more export in the face of the dwindling economy.
The Managing Director of Nigeria Export – Import
Bank, NEXIM Robert Orya briefed the Committee on its activities in
general and the various challenges they are currently facing as an
institution.
She congratulated the Manging Director of the bank
for making the country proud in 2015, and noted a number of expectations
from the development bank.
“I want to remind you that the bank is a development
bank and should make provisions to accommodate the cottage industries,
without these cottage industries we cannot boast of development.
A massive volume of trade is ongoing in the south
East where I come from specifically Aba and Onitsha which happens to be
the commercial hub of import and export on a daily basis.
As a landlocked area, there is a huge need for the
establishment of inland terminal in Onitsha to enhance production
and create portfolio for elaborate farming in the South East to
ensure rural economic growth.
Farm produce like; tomatoes, okro, pepper and other
easily available crops at close proximity should be incorporated into
export products to help boost the economy.” Oduah stated.
On the challenge of funding she urged them to source
for more ventures for funding and stop focusing solely on the Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Lawmakers Present at the session were; Chiarman of
the committee, Rafiu Ibrahim, Peter Nwaboshi , Rilwan Akanbi and other
members of the committee.
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