ON THE HYPE OVER ONITSHA SUPPOSED SEAPORT AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CONSIDER
October 14, 2020 | News
With recent reports that Onitsha seaport is now officially functional after its commissioning on October 6, 2020,
ON THE HYPE OVER ONITSHA SUPPOSED SEAPORT AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CONSIDER
With recent reports that Onitsha seaport is now officially functional after its commissioning on October 6, 2020, and which the former Governor of Abia State, and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has reacted by commending the Federal Government for making such a gigantic effort to revamp the Onitsha Seaport for the benefit of every Nigerian; let me categorically state here that Onitsha does not have a seaport. What Onitsha has cannot be said to be a Seaport because of its shallow inland waterway. Hence, I really do not see the need for all the hype and excitement about the said Onitsha Seaport. Onitsha Port as it is today, can be said to be a National Inland Waterways Port and not really a Seaport. So, Nigerians should not allow anybody to deceive them because they will go round tomorrow spreading news that this administration has built and commissioned a functional Seaport in the Eastern Nigeria. Not that I have anything against this government, but we need to say things as they are in the interest of the Nigerian public.
So, with the recent trending picture of a barge full of containers crossing under the famous Onitsha bridge, Nigerians should be informed that what happened in Onitsha on the said day was just an event to mark the successful completion of a trial barge trip (carrying containers) from Onne Port to the said Onitsha Port. According to the Presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi: “The Plan is to move containers from Lagos and Onne Ports to Onitsha by barge. For now, I believe what is being done is testing. You need to do a pilot first, assess efficiency, do troubleshooting, etc., before you roll out full operations. But if it works as planned it’s going to be a great deal!!”
Let us bear in mind that the National Inland Waterways Port was built under the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1983 and since then, it has been lying fallow and completely underutilized until 2012 when it was supposedly rehabilitated and commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan. But even at that, it still cannot be counted as a functional National Inland Waterways Port because of its shallow waterways, share size and other operational factors. And according to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the said Onitsha River Port would commence supposed full operation only by the 1st quarter of 2021.
Having said that, the bottom line is that as it is, no big vessel/ship can sail to Onitsha to berth at the said Port. The best waterway routes to Onitsha as it stands, is through the River Niger and connecting from Excravos- Forcados-Warri, Okwagbe, Bomadi, Patani, etc. But no ship/vessel can sail from China, Europe to Onitsha. Only light boats and light barges that can sail from the stated waterways of Excravos-Warri Estuaries through Okwagbe, Bomadi, Patani and down to the River Niger in Onitsha. That of the part connecting from Onne Port to Onitsha Port can only handle barges. Even if the River Niger is dredged from Forcados and Excravos-Warri Estuaries through the River Niger to Onitsha, ships/vessels can't still sail to Onitsha because of the level of the Bomadi and Patani bridges. Ships/vessels can't pass under the said bridges.
So, all that noise being made about Onitsha now having a functional Seaport is all politics and public propaganda by the Federal Ministry of Transport. If big ships/vessels cannot sail directly through the Forcados and Excravos-Warri Estuaries to and from the Onne Port, Port-Harcourt Port and Onitsha Port, then what is all the noise about? Also, the Atlantic Ocean is nearer to the Warri Seaport, Sapele Port and Koko Port and Excravos-Warri-Forcados in Delta state, when compared to Onne/Port-Harcourt ports, and Lagos Apapa/Tin Can Island ports. It should be understood that larger ships/vessels can't sail directly to any of these Sea ports in Nigeria. The larger vessels/ships for transporting crude oil only berth by the Atlantic Ocean near Excravos-Warri and Forcados Estuaries.
Let us also recall that it was only two months ago that reports noted that Heads of the Maritime agencies in Nigeria have agreed to work on modalities for the movement of cargoes by barges from Lagos Ports to Onitsha in Anambra State, so as to ease traffic in Apapa-Lagos. Which I strongly advised that the Federal Government and relevant agencies in the Maritime industry should actually re-dredge all the other shallow waters in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta region, specifically those in the Burutu, Sapele, Okwagbe, Koko, Warri and environs areas of Delta State, that were once active in the past. And also put measures in place for the maintenance and sustainability of these natural water ways.
This outcry is hinged on the fact that there has been a National Inland Water Ways Authorities in Onitsha, Okpare, Okwagbe in Ughelli South LGA and Warri in Delta State, right from Colonial era, where some light goods used to move to Onitsha from the Warri Wharf under John Holt Company, now called NPA Warri. As of today, the rivers have become too shallow for bigger barges/vessels to cross. There was also the Okwagbe/Okpare/Iwhrekan towns Wharf in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, which was used by the then John Holt Company and African Trading Company (ATC) for offloading and loading of light cargoes/vessels to transport raw materials to the then Warri Wharf (now NPA) for export. But today, all of that is history, as there were no maintenance culture and sustainability plan in place for these Nigerian Water ways in Delta State, to remain active till date. Once the rivers are not dredged, they would become shallow after some time. The saddest part is that today people are deliberately building houses in these water ways by filling them to reclaim the lands. The question is, why do they abandon the development of our Sea ports and Inland water ways?
And also, some of the bridges that were built around the water ways in question, were built without the consideration of marine transportation. In these modern days, bridges are built in such a way that they can open for vessels/ships to sail through from one point to another. Just like we see them in places like Amsterdam, London, Essex/Kent Dartford bridge/ tunnel and other cities in the world. So, what plans are those in the Nigerian maritime industry and the Government have in this regard? Are they even putting this into consideration when building bridges today?
I have always wondered why should a country as big as Nigeria that is blessed beyond measure with so many coastal regions, especially in the Delta region areas of Delta State, be only known to have two functional Ports – Onne and Lagos Ports? Whereas, there are many other Ports, like that of Warri, Sapele, Okwagbe and Burutu Ports, which have been left to decay and not functioning as they ought to. Delta State, is one State in the country that is immensely blessed with natural coastal regions/areas that have remained untapped its economic opportunities, which can attract tourism opportunities as well. One of such is the Okwagbe Wharf, which was initially used by the Portuguese and the British Colonial Masters for their merchant/slave trades. This same Okwagbe Warf, is not only strategically located, but can also become a major economic transformation for Delta State, as well as the country as a whole, if well developed.
Mind you, Delta Ports, as it is fondly called, is said to possess immense potentials, and is tagged “The Port of the future” by the Nigerian Ports Authorities (NPA). Its uniqueness includes accessibility and proximity to States of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Benue, Abuja, etc. compared with other operational ports in the country. The Onitsha Inland Waterway Port is not under the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). All Seaports in Nigeria are being managed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). But the Onitsha Inland Waterways Port is being managed by the National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA). NPA is not in Onitsha. Quote me anywhere and anytime.
Why should we have the concentration of Port activities within the Maritime industry in Onne (Port-Harcourt), and Apapa, Tin can (Lagos) – leaving other Ports like Delta Ports Complex not working as they should? Why does Lagos Ports seemingly have monopoly over the importation of certain goods like Motor parts, medicine and cars? Is it not appalling that majority of the goods imported into Nigeria comes only from the Lagos Ports, which leave a large number of people from other regions in Lagos State alone for various business activities? This lopsided ‘Political Economy of Nigeria’, is definitely not good for the country, as it will not encourage any significant economic growth.
Though, reports also noted that the said Heads of the Maritime agencies agreed to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on how movement of cargoes from the Ports can be done by rail to reduce the pressure on our roads, the truth is that the importance of Deep Seaports to any society cannot be overemphasized. The Sea Ports are important economic activities in coastal areas. The higher the transportation of goods and passengers’ year-on-year, the more infrastructure, provisions and associated services are required. These will bring varying degrees of benefits to the economy and to the country. Ports are also important for the support of economic activities in the hinterland since they act as a crucial connection between sea and land transport. As a supplier of enormous job opportunities, Ports do not only serve an economic but also a social function.
The bottom line is that the Nigerian Government and its officials should not take Nigerians as fools, and they should stop all of these politics, propagandas and publicity stunts they often pull with the little things they do. It is just that there are too many ignorant people in Nigeria which makes one wonder if these so-called ‘certificated politicians’ are actually educated because they mislead the ignorant public. Do we call it political conspiracy or what? There is no Seaport in Onitsha, and what is around Onitsha is a shallow inland water way bonded Terminal/Jetty/Port. No big vessel/ship can use it. Nigerian elites don't think, and study the environment they live, so they easily get excited over such publicity stunts by the Government.
Zik Gbemre.
October 15, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With recent reports that Onitsha seaport is now officially functional after its commissioning on October 6, 2020, and which the former Governor of Abia State, and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has reacted by commending the Federal Government for making such a gigantic effort to revamp the Onitsha Seaport for the benefit of every Nigerian; let me categorically state here that Onitsha does not have a seaport. What Onitsha has cannot be said to be a Seaport because of its shallow inland waterway. Hence, I really do not see the need for all the hype and excitement about the said Onitsha Seaport. Onitsha Port as it is today, can be said to be a National Inland Waterways Port and not really a Seaport. So, Nigerians should not allow anybody to deceive them because they will go round tomorrow spreading news that this administration has built and commissioned a functional Seaport in the Eastern Nigeria. Not that I have anything against this government, but we need to say things as they are in the interest of the Nigerian public.
So, with the recent trending picture of a barge full of containers crossing under the famous Onitsha bridge, Nigerians should be informed that what happened in Onitsha on the said day was just an event to mark the successful completion of a trial barge trip (carrying containers) from Onne Port to the said Onitsha Port. According to the Presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi: “The Plan is to move containers from Lagos and Onne Ports to Onitsha by barge. For now, I believe what is being done is testing. You need to do a pilot first, assess efficiency, do troubleshooting, etc., before you roll out full operations. But if it works as planned it’s going to be a great deal!!”
Let us bear in mind that the National Inland Waterways Port was built under the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1983 and since then, it has been lying fallow and completely underutilized until 2012 when it was supposedly rehabilitated and commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan. But even at that, it still cannot be counted as a functional National Inland Waterways Port because of its shallow waterways, share size and other operational factors. And according to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the said Onitsha River Port would commence supposed full operation only by the 1st quarter of 2021.
Having said that, the bottom line is that as it is, no big vessel/ship can sail to Onitsha to berth at the said Port. The best waterway routes to Onitsha as it stands, is through the River Niger and connecting from Excravos- Forcados-Warri, Okwagbe, Bomadi, Patani, etc. But no ship/vessel can sail from China, Europe to Onitsha. Only light boats and light barges that can sail from the stated waterways of Excravos-Warri Estuaries through Okwagbe, Bomadi, Patani and down to the River Niger in Onitsha. That of the part connecting from Onne Port to Onitsha Port can only handle barges. Even if the River Niger is dredged from Forcados and Excravos-Warri Estuaries through the River Niger to Onitsha, ships/vessels can't still sail to Onitsha because of the level of the Bomadi and Patani bridges. Ships/vessels can't pass under the said bridges.
So, all that noise being made about Onitsha now having a functional Seaport is all politics and public propaganda by the Federal Ministry of Transport. If big ships/vessels cannot sail directly through the Forcados and Excravos-Warri Estuaries to and from the Onne Port, Port-Harcourt Port and Onitsha Port, then what is all the noise about? Also, the Atlantic Ocean is nearer to the Warri Seaport, Sapele Port and Koko Port and Excravos-Warri-Forcados in Delta state, when compared to Onne/Port-Harcourt ports, and Lagos Apapa/Tin Can Island ports. It should be understood that larger ships/vessels can't sail directly to any of these Sea ports in Nigeria. The larger vessels/ships for transporting crude oil only berth by the Atlantic Ocean near Excravos-Warri and Forcados Estuaries.
Let us also recall that it was only two months ago that reports noted that Heads of the Maritime agencies in Nigeria have agreed to work on modalities for the movement of cargoes by barges from Lagos Ports to Onitsha in Anambra State, so as to ease traffic in Apapa-Lagos. Which I strongly advised that the Federal Government and relevant agencies in the Maritime industry should actually re-dredge all the other shallow waters in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta region, specifically those in the Burutu, Sapele, Okwagbe, Koko, Warri and environs areas of Delta State, that were once active in the past. And also put measures in place for the maintenance and sustainability of these natural water ways.
This outcry is hinged on the fact that there has been a National Inland Water Ways Authorities in Onitsha, Okpare, Okwagbe in Ughelli South LGA and Warri in Delta State, right from Colonial era, where some light goods used to move to Onitsha from the Warri Wharf under John Holt Company, now called NPA Warri. As of today, the rivers have become too shallow for bigger barges/vessels to cross. There was also the Okwagbe/Okpare/Iwhrekan towns Wharf in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, which was used by the then John Holt Company and African Trading Company (ATC) for offloading and loading of light cargoes/vessels to transport raw materials to the then Warri Wharf (now NPA) for export. But today, all of that is history, as there were no maintenance culture and sustainability plan in place for these Nigerian Water ways in Delta State, to remain active till date. Once the rivers are not dredged, they would become shallow after some time. The saddest part is that today people are deliberately building houses in these water ways by filling them to reclaim the lands. The question is, why do they abandon the development of our Sea ports and Inland water ways?
And also, some of the bridges that were built around the water ways in question, were built without the consideration of marine transportation. In these modern days, bridges are built in such a way that they can open for vessels/ships to sail through from one point to another. Just like we see them in places like Amsterdam, London, Essex/Kent Dartford bridge/ tunnel and other cities in the world. So, what plans are those in the Nigerian maritime industry and the Government have in this regard? Are they even putting this into consideration when building bridges today?
I have always wondered why should a country as big as Nigeria that is blessed beyond measure with so many coastal regions, especially in the Delta region areas of Delta State, be only known to have two functional Ports – Onne and Lagos Ports? Whereas, there are many other Ports, like that of Warri, Sapele, Okwagbe and Burutu Ports, which have been left to decay and not functioning as they ought to. Delta State, is one State in the country that is immensely blessed with natural coastal regions/areas that have remained untapped its economic opportunities, which can attract tourism opportunities as well. One of such is the Okwagbe Wharf, which was initially used by the Portuguese and the British Colonial Masters for their merchant/slave trades. This same Okwagbe Warf, is not only strategically located, but can also become a major economic transformation for Delta State, as well as the country as a whole, if well developed.
Mind you, Delta Ports, as it is fondly called, is said to possess immense potentials, and is tagged “The Port of the future” by the Nigerian Ports Authorities (NPA). Its uniqueness includes accessibility and proximity to States of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Benue, Abuja, etc. compared with other operational ports in the country. The Onitsha Inland Waterway Port is not under the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). All Seaports in Nigeria are being managed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). But the Onitsha Inland Waterways Port is being managed by the National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA). NPA is not in Onitsha. Quote me anywhere and anytime.
Why should we have the concentration of Port activities within the Maritime industry in Onne (Port-Harcourt), and Apapa, Tin can (Lagos) – leaving other Ports like Delta Ports Complex not working as they should? Why does Lagos Ports seemingly have monopoly over the importation of certain goods like Motor parts, medicine and cars? Is it not appalling that majority of the goods imported into Nigeria comes only from the Lagos Ports, which leave a large number of people from other regions in Lagos State alone for various business activities? This lopsided ‘Political Economy of Nigeria’, is definitely not good for the country, as it will not encourage any significant economic growth.
Though, reports also noted that the said Heads of the Maritime agencies agreed to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on how movement of cargoes from the Ports can be done by rail to reduce the pressure on our roads, the truth is that the importance of Deep Seaports to any society cannot be overemphasized. The Sea Ports are important economic activities in coastal areas. The higher the transportation of goods and passengers’ year-on-year, the more infrastructure, provisions and associated services are required. These will bring varying degrees of benefits to the economy and to the country. Ports are also important for the support of economic activities in the hinterland since they act as a crucial connection between sea and land transport. As a supplier of enormous job opportunities, Ports do not only serve an economic but also a social function.
The bottom line is that the Nigerian Government and its officials should not take Nigerians as fools, and they should stop all of these politics, propagandas and publicity stunts they often pull with the little things they do. It is just that there are too many ignorant people in Nigeria which makes one wonder if these so-called ‘certificated politicians’ are actually educated because they mislead the ignorant public. Do we call it political conspiracy or what? There is no Seaport in Onitsha, and what is around Onitsha is a shallow inland water way bonded Terminal/Jetty/Port. No big vessel/ship can use it. Nigerian elites don't think, and study the environment they live, so they easily get excited over such publicity stunts by the Government.
Zik Gbemre.
October 15, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes