The Federal Ministry of Transportation has inaugurated a Project Steering Committee for the proposed Ondo Deep Sea and Benin River Ports.

According to a press statement issued by Henshaw Ogubike, Director of Press and Federal Ministry of Transportation, Today, the inauguration was performed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, in Abuja.

Instituting a steering committee for the proposed projects is in furtherance of the Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the Western Ports as well as optimise the contributions of the maritime sector to the country’s economy.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary said the terms of reference for the Committee include to provide guidance and direction on the projects and facilitate necessary permits, clearance and approvals for the projects.

She said it will also be the responsibility of the Committee to prepare the transaction for the Ministry to obtain Federal Executive Council’s approval.

Members of the Steering Committee include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Justice, National Inland Waterways, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, among others.