TheCable

The federal government says it has successfully concessioned the Onitsha port in Anambra, while plans are underway for the concessioning of other ports across the country.

George Moghalu, managing director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), disclosed this to journalists after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, on Thursday.

Moghalu said with such licensing, there would be less pressure on the government, noting that it would also attract more revenue.

He added that discussions were ongoing for the concessioning of Baro port and as well as the Oguta and Lokoja ports that are still under construction, in order to reduce pressure on the government.

“For Onitsha river port, we have successfully concessioned and handed over to Universal Elysium. It is a company that is partnering with the port of Antwerp for the next 30 years,” he said.

“Now, because of limited resources and to reduce pressure on the government, we opened up the discussion with other interested organisations, unsolicited proposals have come for the concessioning of Baro, for the concessioning of Oguta and Lokoja — though still under construction.

“So, we are discussing it with them. The advantage here is that it will reduce pressure from (sic) the government, these people own this port, complete the port, put the port to use and pay royalty to the government. So, it has a lot of advantages. We are working conscientiously on that.

“Before I came to office, Oguta River port was not on the budget for quite a while, but we eventually brought it back to the budget.

“As we speak, we have finished fencing the Oguta River port. And we are doing little by little, depending on resources available to put in place some basic infrastructure that are required for a port to operate.

“Same is applicable to Lokoja. So, we are taking it from two perspectives. Completing the building by government and concession or concession it so that the new concessionaire can complete the ports and put it to effective use.”

Speaking further, Moghalu said big ships are expected to berth at Onitsha port soon.

‘RESOURCES ARE USED BASED ON PRIORITY’

Responding to how much resources have been set aside for dredging this year, the NIWA boss said dredging is not the only priority for the agency, but other activities must be fixed.

“All the resources, all the money available for NIWA this year, are not all dedicated to dredging or to opening up of channels,” Moghalu explained.

“There are other issues that take up resources; human capital development, development of infrastructure, building new jetties, building new ramps across the country and then getting vessels also and putting them to effective use.

“So, what we are doing is, as much as we have, we try to prioritise, but the important thing is that the key aspect of it, is the human, the Nigerian, what affects them more, is what gives us the opportunity for more benefit.”