The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to concession three ports, the Lokoja, Baro and Uguta river ports.
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, who made this disclosure in Lagos in an occasion to mark the World Maritime Day celebration, disclosed that the federal government has also recorded some level of success in the concessioning of Onitsha River Port.
He noted that the concessioning of others such as Lokoja, Baro and Uguta river ports are all in the pipeline and a priority for the present administration.
Amaechi stated that the maintenance dredging of Ajaokuta to Onitsha channels of River Niger is a major step to boost the huge potentials in the country’s inland waterways transportation.
He explained that there are great challenges that lie in the nation’s waterways, ports operations which have slowed the government from diversifying the economy.
“Therefore for us to diversify the economy, the federal government has recorded some level of success on the concessioning of Onitsha river ports, while others like Lokoja, Baro and Uguta river ports are all in the pipeline and a priority for this administration.”
Amaechi further said that the second segment of the Lagos – Kano Standard Gauge Rail System, which would connect the Lagos Port Complex directly would be fully operational by December.
He also informed the gathering that the Federal Government is in the process of acquiring about 100 coaches to be deployed to Lagos area.
