The
House of Representatives is not happy with the Nigerian Inland
Waterways authority for abandoning the Onitsha inland port in South East
commercial city.
House of Representatives is not happy with the Nigerian Inland
Waterways authority for abandoning the Onitsha inland port in South East
commercial city.
The port project had been completed since 2013, but abandoned.
The
lawmakers during an investigative hearing on the abandonment of the
port, questioned the need for Niger River, on which government has
already spent billions of naira without any benefit.
lawmakers during an investigative hearing on the abandonment of the
port, questioned the need for Niger River, on which government has
already spent billions of naira without any benefit.
The
committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways advised the Nigeria inland
waterways authority to exercise caution in its resolve to concession the
Port.
committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways advised the Nigeria inland
waterways authority to exercise caution in its resolve to concession the
Port.
During
the investigative hearing, which was expected to last for three days,
the committee will also consider issues surrounding the abandonment of
dredging and establishment of land ports at Idah and Jamata
in Kogi state.
the investigative hearing, which was expected to last for three days,
the committee will also consider issues surrounding the abandonment of
dredging and establishment of land ports at Idah and Jamata
in Kogi state.
INLAND
Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL), operators of Kaduna Inland Dry Port
(KIDP), had expressed confidence and competence to run the Onitsha River
Port.
Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL), operators of Kaduna Inland Dry Port
(KIDP), had expressed confidence and competence to run the Onitsha River
Port.
The Managing Director of ICNL,
Mr. Yusuf Ismail, said that the company had tendered to
take over the Port under concession agreement, assuring it has
confidence that the company had what it takes to operate the port.
Mr. Yusuf Ismail, said that the company had tendered to
take over the Port under concession agreement, assuring it has
confidence that the company had what it takes to operate the port.
Mr.
Ismail also said that as the first successful ICD operator in Nigeria,
other operators of ICDs in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria have
been coming to his company for advice on how to run ICD
projects.
Ismail also said that as the first successful ICD operator in Nigeria,
other operators of ICDs in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria have
been coming to his company for advice on how to run ICD
projects.
According
to him, one of the companies is the Edo Inland Container Depot. “We
participated in the bidding for concession of Onitsha River Port which
we are waiting for the result.
to him, one of the companies is the Edo Inland Container Depot. “We
participated in the bidding for concession of Onitsha River Port which
we are waiting for the result.
“So
any time from now the Federal Government will announce the winner. If
we are lucky to win it, we are going to run the Onitsha River port too.
What is the difference between the seaport and the dry
port?”
any time from now the Federal Government will announce the winner. If
we are lucky to win it, we are going to run the Onitsha River port too.
What is the difference between the seaport and the dry
port?”
“If
government wants it functional, they will call investors to come and
invest in them and give them the guidelines. They should put policies in
place and there should
be a regulatory body that will make sure it works. So that is how it is
going to work.
government wants it functional, they will call investors to come and
invest in them and give them the guidelines. They should put policies in
place and there should
be a regulatory body that will make sure it works. So that is how it is
going to work.
“Everything
lies in government hands. Even the port we are looking at here in
Apapa, Tin-Can and everywhere; if government wants it to work, it will
work.’’
lies in government hands. Even the port we are looking at here in
Apapa, Tin-Can and everywhere; if government wants it to work, it will
work.’’
