Nigeria: Shippers Want FG to Gazette Onitsha Port

John Iwori Shippers under the aegis of the Anambra State
Shippers Association, have enjoined the federal government to
gazette Onitsha River Port as port of final destination for
goods coming into the country.
The call of the shippers is coming on the heels of the
inactivity at port since it was formally inaugurated four years
ago by President Goodluck Jonathan. Since its unveiling,
which attracted many dignitaries from far and near, the river
port has been bereft of any significant activities as fears
continue to mount in some quarters that the ultra-modern
equipment procured for the port may become rusty and
obsolete.
The port is said to be under lock and key as a result of
inactivity in spite of the assurances of the all key speakers at
the occasion.
The shippers who spoke through the President of the
association, Mr. Emma Akpaka, expressed dismay that over
the present state of things in the river port, even as they
called for its gazette by the federal government.
"Onitsha Port should be gazetted as a port of final destination
for cargos and containers coming from any part of the world.
As a matter of urgent public and economic importance, the
Federal Ministry of Finance should make it a reality," he said.
Akpaka expressed hope that when Onitsha River Port becomes
fully operational, it would aid decongestion of Onne Port in
Rivers State. He said that millions of naira and the jobs
creation capacity that would follow the port were being denied
some local government councils in Delta and Anambra States.
According to him, councils such as Onitsha North, Onitsha
South, Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West (in Anambra) as
well as Asaba and Oshimili North (in Delta) would benefit
tremendously from the operations of the river port.
"An efficient Onitsha port will develop the waterways transport
system along the entire communities close to the River Niger.
Also, there will be less gridlock and excessive load that wear
out tarred roads in the country," he said. ..