The House of Representatives, Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber has pleaded with the Nigerian Navy to relinquish its illegal occupation of the Sapele Port, which was converted into a naval base some years ago.
The Federal Military Government under late General Sani Abacha had closed down the port over alleged increasing cases of pilfering, outright vandalisation and disappearance of imported goods, among several other crimes and converted it to a Naval Base.
The house had in the 2008 legislative year following a debate passed a resolution directing the Nigerian Navy to return the port to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Government’s agency statutorily empower to take care of the seaports.
The debate attracted lots of sentiments, especially from legislators from that area, who had argued that the port would help in the efforts of the government to create more jobs and also reduce the pressure from the existing ports in the country.
Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, chairman, House committee on marine transport made the call in Abuja during the recent public hearing on the controversial Maritime Security Agency Bill, currently at the lower house, which had attracted sharp criticisms from most industry operators against the promoters.
The chairman; who directed his appeal to the Mr. I. I Ibrahim, chief of Naval staff (CNS), wondered why the Navy should ignore the lower legislative chamber, which had made the resolution more than two years ago.
According to him, in a democratic dispensation such as this, the National Assembly would be relevant only when it makes resolutions that it believes is in the overall national interest and they are obeyed and implemented. 
Mr. Obumneme Onuenyenwa, port manager of the Delta Ports, which comprise of the old and new Warri Ports made up of Koko, Sapele, Ogumu and Brutu Ports as well as the oil terminals, Forcados, Ogudiba, Gunnuton, Escravos and other private jetties had told journalists in Warri recently that the authority still awaits further directives from the government on the issue.
According to him, the management of NPA currently includes the Sapele Port in its developmental plans in anticipation that it would soon be returned to the authority following the parliamentary decision that same should be returned to it.
The port manager, who x-rayed the latent investment opportunities in the Delta Ports, noted that they have lots of advantages in terms of their centrality, especially to the South –South part of the country, geographical, availability of road infrastructure and other natural advantages, especially in terms of low siltation of the channels.
The port manager however regretted that despite these advantages, the ports still suffer from relative low patronage, adding that contrary to widely held opinion, the Niger Delta crisis does not have any thing to do with the ports, as the era of hostility around the ports is over.
He disclosed that the port management in the area with the cooperation of the Delta State Government held a tripartite meeting with the community leaders and oil companies on the need for peace, which would guarantee peace in the area.