The Onitsha River Port received its first barges last week, paving the way for the expansion of shipping activities in the Southeastern mini-port.
The concessionaire of the port, Elysium Consortium Limited, which took over the management last year, said it has revamped its operations.
The managing director, Dr. George Nwangwu, was quoted as saying that the barges were fully handled by the crew of Onitsha River Port.
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The barges, which arrived at the port on August 16, were a consignment of tiles from Ajaokuta to Onitsha.
Anticipated to become a weekly affair, this initial barge arrival marks the commencement of a regular movement involving 600 tons of tiles transported to Onitsha every week, along with a corresponding 600 tons of clay back to Ajaokuta.
Expressing his delight at the milestone, Nwangwu said the port’s operation has curtailed the number of trucks on the roads.
He said that the port operation helped take more than 70 trucks off the busy roads, adding that this was only possible and achievable because of the higher water level in the River Niger during the rainy season.
He observed that this occurrence is limited to only six months within a year, primarily due to the decreased water levels in the River Niger during the dry season.
However, he made an earnest appeal to the federal government, urging them to undertake the dredging of the river channel. This action, he emphasized, would enable goods to traverse the river channel throughout the entire year, leading to substantial advantages for the nation.
He extended his commendation to the operations team at the port, comprising supervisors, dockers, crane operators, and forklift operators. He acknowledged their remarkable dedication, which contributed significantly to the smooth and successful execution of the operations.
As stated by the Chief Executive of Onitsha River Port, the company’s objective remains focused on persistently striving to showcase the port’s excellence, despite the prevailing challenges.
The Onitsha Inland Port was rehabilitated and commissioned in 2012, in a bid to accommodate smaller vessels and ease Lagos port congestion. But the port has not commenced full operation until now.
The port was built under the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1983 and has lied fallow and completely under-utilized until 2012 when it was rehabilitated and commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan.