The Onitsha Cargo Inland Port in Anambra State will be ready for concession within two weeks, authorities have said.
General Manager of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mike Dike, stated this over the weekend during the visit of the National Good Governance Team to the port.
The port is yet to commence operation nearly five months after it was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the port would function alongside other ports under construction, including the ongoing Oguta Sea Inland Port in Imo State and Baro Port in Niger State to free Nigerian roads of cargo carriage. He also said the resuscitation of rail transport in the country would also complement the river ports.
According to him, advertisement for concession would be placed within two weeks; adding that NIWA was awaiting a go ahead from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The port has a 3,000-container warehouse capacity of 40 tonnes each.
However, some port users have expressed fears that only small ships will be able to pass under the River Niger Bridge connecting Onitsha to Asaba, which is a nexus to the port from Calabar axis; except further dredging is performed.
Reacting to this, Dike said all the equipment needed for the commencement of operation was available; adding that dredging was an exercise that would continue even after commencement of operation.
