Prioritise dredging of River Niger, Onitsha Port Concessionaire urges FG

The General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the concessionaire of the Onitsha Port, Mr. Chris Mbonu, has appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and private sector stakeholders to make regular dredging and maintenance of the River Niger a national economic priority. He explained […]

The General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the concessionaire of the Onitsha Port, Mr. Chris Mbonu, has appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and private sector stakeholders to make regular dredging and maintenance of the River Niger a national economic priority.

He explained that dredging of the River Niger would enhance operations at the Onitsha River Port and ensure all-year-round, seamless economic activities that will contribute greatly to national development.

He noted that during the dry season, usually between December and July, low tides render the river unnavigable for commercial vessels, effectively shutting down port operations and stalling its economic impact.

Mr Mbonu in a statement he personally signed and made available to the media said he was elated when he and other stakeholders witnessed the successful berthing of MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA on Monday,August 4,2025, being the first barge for the 2025 season.

Describing the berthing of the barge with general cargo as a positive milestone and a reminder of a pressing infrastructural gap, he said operations at the port were ongoing but remained largely seasonal, with activity peaking only during the rainy season when the River Niger’s water level rises sufficiently to allow vessel movement.

He clarified that the seasonal operation was not due to lack of infrastructure or demand but rather due to the inconsistency of dredging and channel management of the River Niger.

He said, “The port is functional and ready to work 365 days a year. But without consistent dredging of the River Niger, we are forced to operate only when the waterway allows us—essentially turning a national asset into a seasonal stopgap.

“The infrastructure is in place, the demand is evident, and the benefits are far-reaching. What is required now is government consistency and strategic investment to make inland waterway transport a pillar of Nigeria’s economic growth,” he said.

He likened a port without a navigable waterway to a car without fuel, adding that the current situation limits the port’s capacity to serve as a true inland logistics hub for Nigeria’s growing domestic and international trade.

Mbonu stated that regular dredging of the River Niger would unlock year-round navigability, enabling barges, ferries, and larger vessels to move seamlessly between the southern seaports and the inland commercial centres.

This, he pointed out, would lower transportation and logistics costs, ease congestion on critical highways, reduce delivery timelines and business inefficiencies, and increase investor confidence in inland logistics.

He added that it would above all, boost Nigeria’s export potential, as barges returning to the coast could carry raw materials, agricultural produce, and solid minerals from the hinterland for export.

The concessionaire stressed that with proper dredging of the River Niger, Onitsha River Port could transform into a year-round, multimodal commercial hub, impacting several sectors such as shipping and logistics, providing a dependable inland route from Lagos and Port Harcourt to the eastern part of Nigeria.

He also underscored the impact on agriculture, including helping farmers and aggregators move produce quickly and efficiently, encouraging investment in industrial and logistics infrastructure in the Southeast and beyond, promoting export trade, and supporting outbound movement of raw materials and agro-commodities via coastal ports.

On tourism and recreation, Mbonu noted that it would enable ferry services, cruises, and hospitality development along the River Niger.