By Ignatius Ushie
The Federal Government has disclosed plans to encourage barge movement of containers from the Onne port and other Eastern ports to the hinterlands.
This was contained in a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation/ Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, disclosed this recently during an assessment visit to the Onne port in Rivers State, which is currently being managed by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT).
Speaking during the visit, Ajani pointed out the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Ports Authority to collaborate with Boat and Barge Operators Association to synchronize and develop a methodology that will result to the movement of containers in barges from its current location to the hinterlands.
Ajani who commended the immense efforts of WACT to provide within the port a beautiful work environment that meets international best practice, said “they are doing a great job” adding, these efforts is however, being hampered with a basic challenge of goods evacuation from the port as a result of some bad segments of the access road leading from Eleme Junction to Onne Port.
She however, assured that government will profer solutions to the situation in no distance time.
On his part, the Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, said: ” We believe in Nigeria. And this believe has helped us set high ambition. It is equally the same believe that has made us to further expand and modernized the terminal.
“The West Africa Container Terminal is equally committed to supporting the Federal Government’s drive to promote non oil export out of the country”, the MD added.
