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By Innocent Orok
A new lease of business activities will be emanating from the long abandoned Onitsha River port complex as the National Inland Waterways Authority
(NIWA) has commence test -running of moving containers from Onne Port to Onitsha River port recently.
According to the Managing Director/CEO of NIWA Dr. George Moghalu during the arrival of the containers from Onne at Onitsha River Port he said, the aim of the test run is to break the jinx and encourage partnership with the Barge Operators Association that is possible to move containers from Onne to Onitsha by water successfully and Onitsha to Onne as well.
He further said, “This is the first phase of the test run and the second phase will be from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River port and Onitsha to Lagos”.
Dr Moghalu said NIWA is giving good exemplary leadership to all investors that moving goods on the waterways is economically viable and safe. So that investors can key in and benefit from the potentials of water transportation.
He also added that as part of his commitment since he assumed duty as MD is to ensure that the Onitsha port is fully functional after 42 years of construction and commissioned in 2012 but has not been put to use.
The exercise is in preparation of the full official operation of the port which will commence by first quarter of 2021.
The NIWA boss also said, “There is no doubt that the full operation of the River port will boost economic activities in Anambra State and South East, create jobs and wealth for our teaming youths, reduce bottlenecks in clearing goods and save money wasted in transporting containers from different ports to the South East, decongest our ports in Lagos and reduce the pressure on our roads”.
