ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY: Professor Calls for Four Free Trade Seaports and Onisha River Upgrade
Professor Advocates for Strategic Seaports and River Upgrades in the South East during Abia State University's 73rd Inaugural Lecture
Mary Nwaeze 
In a compelling address during the 73rd inaugural lecture at Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Collins Chijioke, a distinguished senior lecturer, advocated for the establishment of four free trade seaports in the South East region and the enhancement of the Onisha River through dredging and upgrading. His lecture, titled "Maritime Industry in Nigeria: Integrating the Legal Issues," unfolded at the university's auditorium.
Professor Chijioke pinpointed strategic locations for the proposed seaports, suggesting Obuaku and Azumimi in Abia State, as well as Oseakwa and Asamoto Rivers in Anambra and Imo states respectively.
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Emphasizing the economic impact, he projected that these seaports could effectively manage over 30 percent of the nation's maritime traffic. Furthermore, he highlighted the significance of upgrading the Onisha River, envisioning it as a conduit for smaller vessels originating from Lagos and Port Harcourt.
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The university's vice chancellor and chairman of the occasion, Prof Onyemachi Ogbulu, lauded Professor Chijioke as a significant asset to the institution. Similarly, Prof Victor Nwugo, the director of research and publication at the university, expressed gratitude to Ogbulu for sustaining the inaugural lecture series and commended Chijioke for delivering a lecture enriched with knowledge.
