After successfully concessioning the Onitsha River Ports, the
National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), said it has received
several proposals for the concessioning of the N9.4billion Oguta,
Baro and Lokoja River Ports.
While Baro river ports has been successfully completed and
concessioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Oguta and
Lokoja River ports are still undergoing construction.
LEADERSHIP reports that while the Baro port was built for
N2.6billion, Oguta and Lokoja were built for N2.7billon and
N4.1billion respectively.
However, speaking to LEADERSHIP on the current state of the river
ports across the country, the managing director, NIWA, Dr George
Moghalu, said the proposal for concessioning are being given
consideration.
According to him, while private sector operators manage business
better, they also have enough funds to complete the construction
of the river ports.
He said, “We have received proposals for those who want us to
concession Oguta and Lokoja river ports as it is undergoing
construction and we are giving them serious consideration because
the private sector manages business better. If we are able to
concession Oguta, Lokoja river ports, we may not have resources
to complete the ports but if we have private sector partners who
are ready to work with us, complete the construction, take them
over, run them successful, we will be happy.”
“We encourage concessioning and that’s why we have Onitsha River
Port as our poster boy because we have successfully concessioned
Onitsha and what that means is that we can concession others and
the private sector are in charge of activities their.”
The MD, however, stated that the challenge of access road that
has made the Baro river ports non-functional since it was
commissioned by the President in 2019 is receiving government
attention.
According to him, the federal government has approved
rehabilitation of the rail line while the state government approved
the construction of the dilapidated road leasing to the port.
He said, “Baro is a world class port and it has been completed. The
challenge we have is not about the port but access road to the
port. Am happy to tell you that the federal government is starting a
road project and I engaged the Niger state government where they
assured that they will fix the road.
“Also, FG has approved rail project from Baro to Kano and work is
about to start on it. It’s a major milestone for the port because
Baro in the precolonial days has a port and when one go their, we
will see relics of offices of GB Oliver. At the port, there was a rail
line, so what is needed is to rehabilitate the rail line because we
need multi modal means of transportation to be able to use the
port effectively.
“If cargoes comes to the port, they should be able to be discharged
and will either move by rail or water depending on where the
cargoes are going. Am sure that the project is on course and as
regards to rail and road, in no distant future, the access to Baro
river ports will be sorted and resolved,” he assured.
He stated that if the river ports are successfully concessioned, the
current pressure on the roads will be reduced, thereby, increasing
the roads lifespan.

https://leadership.ng/federal-govt-plans-concessioning-of-n9-4bn-baro-oguta-lokoja-river-ports/
mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala seun semid4lyfe dominique

Anything to move the country forward is highly welcome over to you wailers

HOW MANY YEARS WOULD IT TAKE THIS DULLARD IN ASO ROCK TO CONCESSION THESE PORTS?

Awesome! God bless Nigeria for ever!