About 60 per cent of cargoes coming into Nigerian ports are destined for the South East of the country, the National Inland Waterways Authority has said.
The authority, therefore, suggested recourse to the Onitsha River ports to help decongest the ever-busy Lagos ports.
The Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Muoghalu, stated this on Thursday when he visited the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, in Abuja.
The courtesy call was also an occasion to seek the collaboration of the police in providing adequate security for the second test-run of cargo shipments from Lagos to Onitsha river port, Muoghalu hinted.
“The purpose of our visit is to seek the cooperation of the police force to build a synergy in our inland waterways operations, especially now that we are about to commence the second phase of the test-run of shipping cargoes from Lagos to Onitsha.
“Statistics have shown that about 60 per cent of cargoes coming into Nigerian ports are destined for the South East of the country; and the utilisation of Onitsha river port would decongest Lagos ports,” he said.
The NIWA MD thanked the IGP for the cooperation the force has been rendering to NIWA Inland Police Command.
He, however, appealed for more cooperation in areas of need, such as lack of gun boats, accoutrements and anti-riot equipments.
He also enjoined Baba to help vacate some police officials illegally occupying NIWA’s premises at Onitsha Area Office, to assist its teeming needy staff.
Muoghalu added that the visit was also aimed at allaying the fears of the cargo owners and build their confidence on the test-run exercise from Lagos to Onitsha.
In his response, Baba thanked the NIWA helmsman and his management team for the visit.
“I thank you for coming to congratulate me and intimate me with the developments and challenges you have in your organisation.”
He assured that the force will look for ways to support NIWA in its areas of operations.
