Onitsha Inland Port: Stakeholders Excited At Economic Prospects

Global shipping giant, Maersk, on 6th October, operated from China to Onne Port, and afterwards containers going to Onitsha were barged down to the Onitsha inland port.

Tolu Ogunlesi, media aide to the president, via Twitter handle (@toluogunlesi), had written that, “Maersk is now (starting 2020) sending container ships direct from China to the Onne Port, without the need to first call at Lagos. Now, when the ship berths in Onne, it will be offloaded and the containers going to Onitsha Port will be barged down.”

The arrangement shows that the containers leave China through Shangai, and get to Onne Port in about a month, and the cargo leaves Onne Port and arrives at Clarion Terminal, Onitsha, the next day.

The economic implications of this development are enormous, in the views of stakeholders in the Southeast region. They see it as a landmark development in the history of the region, because of its huge multiplier effects.

An accountant and businessman, Mr Solomon Ugwueya, told THE WHISTLER that, “This development is a landmark record. It will reduce usual problematic logistics with going to Lagos. Those who go to the Apapa port most of the time have one tale of woes or the other to tell. When Onitsha Inland Port becomes operational, it will create employment opportunities in the area, improve revenue generation of Anambra and to some extent Delta States, decongest Lagos seaport, and also increase values of property in and around Anambra State. I expect governors of Southeast states and key stakeholders to immediately key into this. It will find a lasting solution to the region’s quest for homegrown businesses, as well as economic sustenance. It will be a legacy project for President Muhammadu Buhari.”

In a similar vein, Sheddy Ozoene, a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, described the emerging inland port as a positive development, considering that it had been in the pipeline, but past administrations had not given it a political will. In his view, “The seaport in Onitsha has been long in coming. It was conceived during the Shehu Shagari administration in 1981; subsequent administrations did not appear to have the political will to see to its realization. For years, the seaport was entangled in the usual Nigerian politics of ethnicity. It will count positively for the Buhari administration if it ‘truly truly’ takes off this time around. A seaport in Onitsha has the potential to improve the volume of businesses in that city, which is the biggest trading centre East of the Niger. By easing the conveyance of goods to the hinterland, it will make goods affordable, thereby affecting the economy of the Southeast and parts of the Southsouth.”

However, an international businessman, Comrade Chido Okolo, warned against politicization of the project. According to him, “Is it really emerging? Buhari came in with the dredging the river Niger to start receiving ships as in other ports, but all you see there is one year one block. That leaves us with the question, ‘How many years would it really take to dredge river Niger?’ The hype on Onitsha seaport is a political gimmick. The second Niger bridge is a good example of a government with good intentions, but the seaport is more of a mirage.”

Meanwhile, the president of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), Chris Ukachukwu, has commended the federal government’s decision to set modalities in motion for the movement of cargoes by barges to Onitsha, describing it as timely as the nation continues to lose revenue due to the congestion at the Lagos ports. Quoting him, “The Onitsha chamber finds it incomprehensible that all seaport projects remain concentrated in Lagos while the ports in Onitsha, Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Sapele, Warri, Escravos, Forcados and Onne are yet to run at optimum capacity or even explored as in the case of Onitsha River Port. The monopoly of the port remains counterproductive to the survival of the nation, especially with the recent dwindling fortunes brought about by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Hence there is the need to fast-track the implementation of this decision.

“From the landmark arrival of the Maersk Line Stardlehorn vessel at Onne Port, it has become obvious that the federal government is truly desirous of decongesting the Lagos ports. Next step is to ensure that all hindrances to the transporting of barges, like the need for continuous dredging of the River Niger, managing the pricing regime and other operational requirements of the port are adequately addressed in order to open up unprecedented patronage of the eastern ports.”

The managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr George Moghalu, recently in Onitsha, reinstated the FG’s plans to make the Onitsha river port a port of final destination. Moghalu said the route from Onne seaport to Onitsha river port was currently undergoing upgrade for navigational ease, and encouraged businessmen in the region to key into the efforts to make it a success. Moghalu however said paucity of funds would not handle full dredging of the waterways immediately.

In his words, “The process to make it a port of final destination is on. The facility will enable the movement of bulk commodities and containerized products to the area. What is possible now is maintenance dredging. We are in the process of procuring more dredgers. They will maintain and dredge all our channels. We call for security arrangements to avoid any security challenges. Insurance matters are also being put in place. We are looking at Onithsa-Onne and Onitsha-Lagos.”