Onitsha River Port begins operations 1st quarter of 2021 – NIWA

Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, Sept 29, 2020

ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – The management  of National Inland Water (NIWA),Onitsha River Port Complex, Anambra state is fine-tuning  plans of concessionning Onitsha River Port operation to enable it  commence operation  by first quarter 2021.

The  Area zonal  officer of NIWA, Onitsha River Port Mrs. Queen Uba disclosed this during an interactive session with some journalists at National Inland Water NIWA officer Onitsha, Anambra state.

 She assured that that  port would  commence full operation by the first quarter of 2021 when all arrangement for the concession must have been concluded. Uba stated that NIWA has put in place all things needed for the full operation of the port.

According to her ,the Managing Director  of NIWA, Mr. George Moughalu  has been making frantic efforts toward full operation of port in the south East since he assumed office. She also disclosed that the operation was  being put on hold due to the ongoing process to concession it.

Uba said that NIWA  has put in place all things necccsary  for effective operation of the port and  they are just  waiting for completion of the concession.

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She further stated that while  waiting for completion of the concession the management has entered into  aggrement with Connect Rail Services Limited to kick start the lifting of goods  from the port to other places in the county.

Speaking also at the session, the Onistha Port Manger ,Mr. Baba Spencer said  the port was ready for use with all the facilities needed to operate effectively  in place.  According to him,  while the consesion was  ongoing, the Connect Rail Services limited  has been contracted to use port stacking yard as a bonded terminal to kick start the functionalities of the port  operation on temporary basis until  the  consesion is fully concluded.

According to him,when the port commence full operation, it would reduce the cost of moving goods and human from Onitsha to other parts of the country.

He also said the full operation would promote and increase commercial activities and attract  more investors into the state.

Onitsha River port was built under the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1983 since then it  has been laying fallow and completely under ultilised until in 2012 ,when it was rehabilitated and commissioned  by President Goodluck Jonathan.