By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
In an effort to make Onitsha River Port functional, and to decongest the Lagos Ports, 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.
The idea of hauling containers via Burutu Ports to Onitsha River port is to deliberately avoid the two small bridges of Gbarekolo and Bumandi.
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.
Managing Director of NIWA, Chief Dr. George Moghalu in a press statement signed by Jibril Darda’u, 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 4 days.
The MD also added that NIWA is engaging Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of the Cargo haulage.
Recall that the Chairman of Akewa Colmar Terminal Limited (ACTL), Chief Kenneth Donye, during the proposal defense 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 transshipment from Lagos Ports via Burutu Port to Onitsha River Port as final destination
