The South-East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA) has urged the Federal Government to decongest Port Harcourt ports to enhance ease of doing business in South-East and Nigeria in general.

The newly elected President of SEAMATA, Chief Gozie Akudolu, made the call immediately after his inauguration in Enugu on Tuesday.

Akudolu criticised the delay in clearing goods from Eastern ports since they are congested, adding that the ports decongestion would alleviate sufferings of most traders, who clear goods at these ports.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Comptroller General of Customs to as a matter of urgency to begin a holistic decongestion of Port Harcourt ports to alleviate the suffering of traders in the South-East.

“Cargoes that initially arrived, cleared and taken delivery within 30 days; presently takes as much as 65 days and is adversely affecting the ease of doing business in the South-East,” he said.

The South-East traders’ boss, however, congratulated the South-East governors for their victory in the 2019 general elections.

According to him, SEAMATA is urging them to ensure effective delivery of dividend of democracy to the people.

Akudolu lauded traders’ delegates who believed and elected his executive to pilot the affairs of the association, adding that his led executive would serve the traders to ensure peaceful business environment and general welfare of traders.

“We are highly elated by the trust and confidence which you all expressed in usthrough your votes and wish to assure you that we shall throughout our tenure maintain this confidence you reposed on us,” he said.

He also congratulated the immediate past president of SEAMATA and House of Representatives member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Mr. Okwudili Ezenwankwo, for his success in the just-concluded General Elections.

“Ezenwankwo’s noble and outstanding achievement in SEAMATA brought unity and peace in the association and among traders,” he said.

He also lauded the grand patron of the association, Chief Emeka Offor, for supporting traders financially both in time of difficulty and otherwise.

SEAMATA is the umbrella body of all traders and market associations/unions within the South-East.