Ports congestion: NIWA hires firm to move cargo from Lagos to Onitsha

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is to engage the services of Akewa Colmar Terminal Limited (ACTL) to move containers from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River Port via Burutu Port in Delta State, in an effort to make Onitsha River Port functional, and to decongest the Lagos ports.

NIWA’s general manager for corporate affairs, Jibril Darda’u, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday said the idea of hauling containers via Burutu Ports to Onitsha River port was to avoid the two small bridges of Gbarekolo and Bumandi.

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“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 final destination.

“The Managing Director of NIWA, George Moghalu disclosed that NIWA is targeting about 1,000 containers to be hauled per trip from Lagos Ports to Onitsha River Port within the maximum duration of four days.

“The MD also added that NIWA is engaging Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of the Cargo haulage,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the Chairman of ACTL, Chief Kenneth Donye had during his the proposal at NIWA Liaison Office Abuja before the Management team of NIWA, expressed the readiness of his company to partner with NIWA in carrying out “this noble and historic transhipment from Lagos Ports via Burutu Port to Onitsha River Port as final destination.”