1000 containers from Lagos to Onitsha River Port, ‘ll take 4 days – Moghalu

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The National Inland Water Ways Authority has said that the proposed movement of 1000 containers from Lagos to Onitsha river port next Week will take a maximum duration of 4 days per trip to arrive.

In a statement made on Thursday by the NIWA general manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Dardau, movement of containers will start next week.

The Executive Director of NIWA Mr. George Moughalu.said the agency is targeting about 1,000 containers to be hauled per trip from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River Port within the maximum duration of 4 days.

Moghalu

NIWA according to Moghalu is engaging the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of the cargo haulage.

The agency in a bid to achieve it’s target has mentioned the third party companies it would work with during the operation to achieve the desired goal.

In an official statement, NIWA said: “The idea of hauling containers via Burutu Ports to Onitsha River Port is to deliberately avoid the two small bridges of Gbarekolo and Bumandi,

“Because the two bridges are too tiny and shallow for sea moving badges or vessels to ply through, that is why the company (ACTL) is considering the route from Lagos ports to Burutu Port then to Onitsha River Port as the final destination,” the statement added.

It is believed that to make a clean break from the old order and perceived past marginalization of the Southeast region where their Maritime sector has been neglecting for too long.

This recent initiative by NIWA is focused at reducing the gridlock at the Sea Ports in Lagos and engender economic growth especially at this time of global economic uncertainties.