Apapa Gridlock: FG to Convert Marina, Ido Jetty to River Ports

Eromosele Abiodun

Aside the four river ports across the country currently at the stage of inauguration, the federal government has concluded arrangements to convert two major jetties in Lagos State - Ido and Marina to river ports, to facilitate the movement of cargo from Apapa ports to other parts of the country.

The river ports, which will be developed in collaboration with Chinese consortium will be able to receive ocean going vessels.

The Acting Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Danladi Ibrahim disclosed this.

Ibrahim, also denied reports making the rounds that the agency has many abandoned projects across the country, said NIWA was working out plan to drive water transportation from Nigeria to Ghana and other West African countries.

Also, he said the Onitsha River port in Anambra State and Baro River port in Niger State would be inaugurated before the end of 2018.

Ibrahim listed the three other river ports as Lokoja in Kogi State, Makurdi in Benue State and Uguta in Imo State which are between 75 and 85 percent completed.

Specifically, he stated that the Baro River port Niger State, had been completed and was ready to start operations.

The NIWA boss said the Baro and Lokoja ports would be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of this year.

He said NIWA had supplied the cargo-handling equipment which was being installed at Baro port.

“President Buhari will inaugurate Baro and Lokoja ports before the end of 2018. There is provision in the 2018 budget for the construction of roads that will link Baro port to Lokoja and Abuja Express Way. We have engaged another contractor to fast-tack the construction of Lokoja port and also working toward completion of Oguta port in Imo,” Ibrahim said in a chat with newsmen.

He also said the concession of Onitsha Port had been completed and the concessionaires would soon start operation.

“Finally, the concessioning of Onitsha port has been completed. We opened the financial bids on July 3, 2018 and we will pick the most competent concessionaire. Any moment from now, the concessionaire will take over Onitsha port,” he added.

He said there was need for NIWA to continue to engage in continuous maintenance of all the channels under its jurisdiction. According to him, the authority has been calling on international organisations to partner with it.

Ibrahim said NIWA’s Bill which had been before the National Assembly for the past 10 years had passed second reading.

“This would help the organisation to be independent like other sister government agencies. The bill would increase the capacity of the authority and also create room for Public Private Partnership (PPP) and provide numerous jobs for unemployed Nigerians,” he said.

The NIWA boss said the agency had included the dredging of River Benue to complement the River Niger in its 2019 master plan.

He said the authority would start the dredging of Baro River soon, adding that the dredging of Ajaokuta – Onitsha waterways is ongoing.

“NIWA will purchase

barges for transshipment of bulk cargoes from Lagos ports to Onitsha and Baro ports,” he said.

Ibrahim said NIWA was employing public private partnership (PPP) approach for its channel management with some foreign partners.

Former Managing Director of NIWA, Boss Gida Mustapha had during a tour of the area offices under the agency said it was inching closer to the final concession of the Onitsha, Lokoja, Baro and Oguta River ports. He confirmed the receipt of certificate of compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission (ICRC) to go ahead with the concession process.

The concession, he said, would allow for private sector management and trigger improved utilisation of the inland waterways for transportation and easy conveyance of goods.