AFRICA ( Commonwealth Union) _ While negotiations are underway for the concessioning of Baro and several other ports across the nation, the federal government claims that it has effectively concessioned the Onitsha Port in Anambra State.
Following a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, George Moghalu, managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), made this statement while taking questions from State House reporters.
The president further stated that such licensing would reduce the pressure on the government and bring in cash. He also stated that they successfully concessioned and turned over the Onitsha property to Universal Elison, a business that will collaborate with Port of Tuna for the next 30 years. Due to resource constraints and to ease pressure on the government, we have now initiated conversations with other interested organizations. Unsolicited bids for the concessioning of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi, Baro in Niger State, and Oguta in Imo have also been received, despite the fact that these cities are still under construction. So, we’re talking to them right now. Because these people own the port, built it, used it, and paid royalties to the government, there will be less pressure from the government.
Therefore, it offers a lot of benefits, and we are diligently striving to improve it. Prior to his appointment, Oguta River Port was not on the budget, according to Mr. Moghalu, but it has since been added. He claims that the Oguta port’s fencing is finished, and depending on the resources available, certain fundamental infrastructure needed for a port to function are being built.
The same is true for Lokoja, so we are approaching it from two angles. Finishing the construction through government and concession so that the new concessionaire can finish the ports and use it effectively.
He said that a trial run was conducted before the concession. However, He claimed that while the shipment of goods from Lagos to Onitsha was being completed, cargo was being shifted between Onne and Onitsha.
