President Goodluck Jonathan today commissions the rehabilitated Onitsha River Port Complex in Anambra State.
The commissioning of the Onitsha River Port Complex today follows its extensive overhaul with new facilities, offices, warehouses and cargo handling equipment.
Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, is the Chief Host at the commissioning, while the Managing Director of NIWA, Arc. Ahmed Yar’Adua, is the Host.
The Federal Government through her agency, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) rehabilitated the Onitsha River Port Complex at the cost of N4 billion. The fund was provided by the Federal Government while the refurbishment was overseen by NIWA.
The reconditioned port complex is expected to boost economy activities in that zone with complement the newly-dredged Lower River Niger.
Already, barges and other vessels moving on the dredged channel of the River Niger are using the port to load and discharge cargoes such as tiles, steel and petroleum products.
It is also expected that, as the complex goes into full operation following the commissioning, businesses in the commercial hub of Onitsha, and environs, would lead to the optimal utilisation of the resulting synergy between the dredged River Niger and the port.
Before the overhaul, which was handled by Inter-Bau Construction Limited, the said port had suffered years of neglect, underutilisation and disrepair.
for your information, it was the Shehu Shagari’s Administration that commissioned the Onitsha River Port in 1983, but never put in use since then.
Thereafter, it slipped into a state of underutilisation and disrepair, forcing operators of ferries and other trading vessels to abandon it.
