The National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) is employing the services of Akewa Colmar Terminal Limited (ACTL) to move containers from Lagos port to the Onisha River Port through Burutu Port in Delta State.
The general manager for corporate affairs, Jibril Darda’u, in a statement on Thursday said the relocation is in a bid to decongest the Lagos port and also, to make Onitsha River port functional.
He added that the idea of moving containers through Burutu Ports to Onitsha River port was mainly to avoid the two small bridges of Gbarekolo and Bumandi
According to the statement: “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.
“The Managing Director of NIWA, George Moghalu 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 four days.
“The MD also added that NIWA is engaging Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of the Cargo haulage,” the statement said.
“The Chairman of ACTL, Chief Kenneth Donye had during his the proposal 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 transhipment from Lagos Ports via Burutu Port to Onitsha River Port as final destination.”
