Maersk shipping company has responded to the news making rounds in the social media, insinuating it has commenced a full shipping operation at Onitsha Inland Port.

The news broke out early Wednesday morning as a pic of the dockyard being commissioned, and shipment schedule from Maersk showing China – Onitsha destination surfaced online.

“We took a walk at the Onitsha pilot port after it was commissioned today. The port is at its full function. Such a pleasant sight! Congrats to the importers,” a Twitter user wrote.

Series of tweets praising the development followed, as many others joined the preaching.

“So Onitsha Port was commissioned yesterday & you can now send a container from China to Onitsha without going through Lagos? And some of have been using it for months but kept quiet? Why do people refuse to talk when good things happen in Nigeria,” Dr. Joe Abah wrote.

However, in response to inquiry about their operations in Onitsha Inland Port, Maersk said in an email response to Tekedia that the news has been inaccurate.

“There are some inaccurate news reports going around as we are not calling at Onitsha port with our vessels as this is not operationally feasible due to the draft of our vessels.

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

The Onitsha Inland Port was rehabilitated and commissioned in 2012, in view to accommodate vessels and ease Lagos Ports of congestion. But the port is yet to commence full operation since then.



A Seaport

Last month, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said the commencement of shipping operations is targeted at the first quarter of 2021. NIWA’s Area Manager at Onitsha Area Office, Mrs. Queen Uba said operations at the port have been on hold due to the ongoing concession process, but NIWA is ready for its operations as soon as the process is complete.

“NIWA has put in place all necessary things for effective operation of the port and we are just waiting for the completion of the concession process. While we are waiting for the completion of the concession process, the management has entered into agreement with Connect rail Services Limited to kick start the lifting of goods from the port to other places in the country,” she said.

Onitsha Inland Port was built under the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1983 and since then, it has been lying fallow and completely under-utilized until 2012 when it was rehabilitated and commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It is hoped that NIWA will live up to the challenge and facilitate shipping operations in the port that will spur its activities beyond a clarion depot for trucking cargoes.

https://www.tekedia.com/maersk-refutes-claims-that-onitsha-inland-port-is-fully-operational/

Maersk said

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

Biko, when cargo is discharged in Onitsha through Onne or Lagos, won't the goods be offloaded in Onitsha? If the ports is not operating, even by a clarion depot, offload is still offload and that's what matters to me.

Must they whittle down the effort of the government?

ogododo:


How mod allowed this to make front page;
https://www.nairaland.com/6166679/onitsha-port-more-containers-arrive

I even commented Big Lie.Warri no far from Asaba Onithsa bridge

Don't blame Mr Seun and his mods. So far anything moves traffics and a trending issue. They are here for the money.
Just my opinion. No findings though


Meanwhile, I will design, print and brand for you with 3D logo graphics and hyper realistic concepts.

Kindly check my signature below with the link and my work archives.

akinmusi:
Must they whittle down the effort of the government?


Meanwhile, I will design, print and brand for you with 3D logo graphics and hyper realistic concepts.

Kindly check my signature below with the link and my work archives.

How mod allowed this to make front page;
https://www.nairaland.com/6166679/onitsha-port-more-containers-arrive

I even commented Big Lie.Warri no far from Asaba Onithsa bridge

So the cargoes were discharged at Onne port then trucked to Onitsha

Chai why were APC psychopaths trying to delude the Igbos and guilttrip them into thinking Buhari has lauded a riverport in Onitsha

That one wey hate Igbos so? I laugh in Igbo language.

Like my friend wrote even if nah head Dem go use carry am so far e go reach onitsha no wahala. Onitsha port will help not only decongest Lagos ports, it will also decongest our roads and make them last long. Kudos to pmb administration. Am not a fan of buhari but I give him thumbs up for this effort

Solsix:
Like my friend wrote even if nah head Dem go use carry am so far e go reach onitsha no wahala. Onitsha port will help not only decongest Lagos ports, it will also decongest our roads and make them last long. Kudos to pmb administration. Am not a fan of buhari but I give him thumbs up for this effort

Simple.

flyingpig:
So the cargoes were discharged at Onne port then trucked to Onitsha

Chai why were APC psychopaths trying to delude the Igbos and guilttrip them into thinking Buhari has lauded a riverport in Onitsha

That one wey hate Igbos so? I laugh in Igbo language.

Why dem de spread lies, saw Mynd44 now Lalasticlala

It is a campaign gimmick! All for the photos..No dredgings, so how can the Onitsha port function? Basically the roads to and from the Lagos ports are now totally clogged thereby increasing the cost of transporting containers across Nigeria. You have to cough out over a million naira to transport a container to Abuja or Kaduna from Lagos! Using barges to bring in some of the containers to onitsha for onward transportation to the north can't happen without onitsha businesses accessing such facilities..

The next problem will be with the Onitsha bridges which are very low. Since the talk of the second Niger bridge started, experts have suggested that the bridge should be constructed in a way that ships can pass underneath in the future. There were also suggestions for rail tracks across the bridge to be considered. None of those have taken place. So we now have a new bridge being constructed without such plans all to spite the east. But in the long run, it also means that bigger ships can't access any ports being considered for construction up north like in Lokoja etc. Talk about cutting your nose to spite your tribal face..

No need to rush.

The whole truth will come out in the coming days.

Premium Times and Sahara Reporters should go and do some investigative journalism

That's because they are seemingly the only two media houses that have what it takes to so that.

Where is that Omenka and Afamed that have been slandering for saying the truth on this issue

Rugaria:
It is a campaign gimmick! All for the photos..No dredgings, so how can the Onitsha port function? Basically the roads to and fro from the Lagos ports are now totally clogged thereby increasing the cost of transporting containers across Nigeria. You have to cough out over a million naira to transport a container to Abuja or Kaduna from Lagos! Using barges to bring in some of the containers to onitsha for onward transportation to the north can't happen without onitsha businesses accessing such facilities..

The next problem will be with the Onitsha bridges which are very low. Since the talk of the second Niger bridge started, experts have suggested that the bridge should be constructed in a way that ships can pass underneath in the future. There were also suggestions for rail tracks across the bridge to be considered. None of those have taken place. So we now have a new bridge being constructed without such plans all to spite the east. But in the long run, it also means that bigger ships can't access any ports being considered for construction up north like in Lokoja etc. Talk about cutting your nose to spite your tribal face..

you've said it all

Lol, little wonder why Nigeria will never work. The more you look, the less you see.
A government that came through propaganda, is sustained with propaganda and still making projections based on propaganda is an evil government.

This country is already breaking yet instead of the fool's to be doing things that would help to reverse it, they even keep worsening it.

Bastards!!

Proeast2:
Lol, little wonder why Nigeria will never work. The more you look, the less you see.
A government that came through propaganda, is sustained with propaganda and still making projections based on propaganda is an evil government.

This country is already breaking yet instead of the fool's to be doing things that would help to reverse it, they even keep worsening it.

Bastards!!

You actually bought into that propaganda? You should know better than that. They haven't made Onne/Calabar ports competitively functional and it's Onitsha port they will save?

Rugaria:

You actually bought into that propaganda? You should know better than that. They haven't made Onne/Calabar ports competitively functional and it's Onitsha port they will save?

Allow igbos to continue deluding themselves.

Hopeless miscreants.

SLAP44:
Maersk said

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

Biko, when cargo is discharged in Onitsha through Onne or Lagos, won't the goods be offloaded in Onitsha? If the ports is not operating, even by a clarion depot, offload is still offload and that's what matters to me.

You mean if you transport container from China to port Harcourt through onne port, and then transport the container by road to Onitsha, it still means Onitsha port was used as a seaport after all?

Elder0001:


Allow igbos to continue deluding themselves.

Hopeless miscreants.

Miscreants?? How?? It's like you are going through your normal bipolar spasm

If this works,, Warri will flow again, because Warri port will see cargoes

ogododo:
Maersk shipping company has responded to the news making rounds in the social media, insinuating it has commenced a full shipping operation at Onitsha Inland Port.

The news broke out early Wednesday morning as a pic of the dockyard being commissioned, and shipment schedule from Maersk showing China – Onitsha destination surfaced online.

“We took a walk at the Onitsha pilot port after it was commissioned today. The port is at its full function. Such a pleasant sight! Congrats to the importers,” a Twitter user wrote.

Series of tweets praising the development followed, as many others joined the preaching.

“So Onitsha Port was commissioned yesterday & you can now send a container from China to Onitsha without going through Lagos? And some of have been using it for months but kept quiet? Why do people refuse to talk when good things happen in Nigeria,” Dr. Joe Abah wrote.

However, in response to inquiry about their operations in Onitsha Inland Port, Maersk said in an email response to Tekedia that the news has been inaccurate.

“There are some inaccurate news reports going around as we are not calling at Onitsha port with our vessels as this is not operationally feasible due to the draft of our vessels.

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne
https://www.tekedia.com/maersk-refutes-claims-that-onitsha-inland-port-is-fully-operational/

Most of you are just ignorant

SLAP44:
Maersk said

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

Biko, when cargo is discharged in Onitsha through Onne or Lagos, won't the goods be offloaded in Onitsha? If the ports is not operating, even by a clarion depot, offload is still offload and that's what matters to me.

For real? You posted with sense for the first time in your Nairaland history. Very commendable.

Truth be told, nobody fights result. It will get to a time even the most toxic critic of the Buhari government will have no other choice than to admit result are being achieved. We are getting their soon.

As for the OP and other wailers who are desperately trying to deny the obvious by deliberately confusing the issues, read SLAPP44’s post and have sense. Below is what government said and Maersk also confirmed it. Nobody ever said ships will now berth in onitsha. Anybody expecting Maersk ships to berth in onitsha ports must really be crazy to be honest.

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

Too many illiterates are in this thread. What I discovered is that those guys on Twitter DO NOT know difference between Ships and barges.
They are just just social Media E-rats working for political parties.

Ships DO NOT Bert in Onitsha River port but rather BERGES is what Berts in Onitsha. So what happens is that when the Big ships comes to Onne, The containers are transferred to the barges, Then barges used to 'truck' the containers Via River Niger to Onitsha River port.

ruffhandu:


You mean if you transport container from China to port Harcourt through onne port, and then transport the container by road to Onitsha, it still means Onitsha port was used as a seaport after all?

In your quest to discredit the good work of government, you have displayed very crude illiteracy. Who told you the containers will be transported by road to Onitsha?

The containers would be moved by Barge to Onitsha and not by Dangote trucks. A barge is a large flat boat that can move containers on rivers and canals. Get yourself properly educated before spewing rubbish over an issue you know nothing about.

The realities of Onitsha River Port - Myth and Facts

I have seen a lot of posts regarding the flag-off of Barge Services from Onne to the Onitsha River Port, which I have been tagged or received through other social media handles. Most of the write ups were laced with emotions without the benefit of facts and realities.
Without joining issues with any of the divide on this subject, permit me to state that what happened at the River Port last week was a flag off by NIWA, a logistics services by a private firm to ferry containers from Onne, River State to the River Port Onitsha. This services simply use the flexibility of the inland waterways to deliver containers from Onne to Onitsha instead of transporting the containers with vehicles through the roads. This is a welcome development. It will reduce the number of containers using the roads and make use of the river as a means of transport.
Before now, there is Clarion Shipping Line that has been using the River Port as bonded warehouse. Containers shipped under their company are discharged at Onne and taken by the road to the River Port for custom clearance and delivery to the owners. The barge services can also pick the containers on behalf of Clarion Shipping Line from Onne to Onitsha by using the inland waterways.
For Onitsha River Port to operate fully as a designated port of destination, there has to be a legal framework gazetted for the same, and that was what this government tried to do by opening it up for concessionning FG has grant the approval for the commencement of the declaration and gazetting process to be ready first quarter of next year, which if completed is expected to give some measure of comfort to shippers, when fully concession the Onitsha River Port in order to tap from its huge economic benefits to businesses located in the commercial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi and Aba, and save the economy the burdened cost of transporting goods from Lagos to Eastern Nigeria. This will not also save businesses as much as N750,000.00 put into cargo clearance as haulage cost of transporting cleared consignment from Lagos ports to the states in the East.

FarahAideed:
Where is that Omenka and Afamed that have been slandering for saying the truth on this issue

Very stupid comment as usual. This is the type you seek out to believe.

When a good news from thisday, vanguard, punch, guardian, channels, or any other reputable media breaks, you would become uncontrollably angry and would seek out another report, be it from ogogoro.com, that says it is false. You don't mind creating a site yourself, writing the article and publishing it on the site yourself, then copy and paste the article from the useless site on nairaland.

I do hope that the bad news you seek out all the time and always desire remain the situation of things be your portion all the time.

You're a pathetic creature honestly.

seunmsg:


In your quest to discredit the good work of government, you have displayed very crude illiteracy. Who told you the containers will be transported by road to Onitsha?

The containers would be moved by Barge to Onitsha and not by Dangote trucks. A barge is a large flat boat that can move containers on rivers and canals. Get yourself properly educated before spewing rubbish over an issue you know nothing about.

I wan reply you earlier, but mod no gree me.
The lie be say someone tweeted and posted video of Onitsa being functional. Na de thing I de reject
Make we say things as de are
I go dey happy if it start by 2021, Warri road no go de quick spoil

seunmsg:


For real? You posted with sense for the first time in your Nairaland history. Very commendable.

Truth be told, nobody fights result. It will get to a time even the most toxic critic of the Buhari government will have no other choice than to admit result are being achieved. We are getting their soon.

As for the OP and other wailers who are desperately trying to deny the obvious by deliberately confusing the issues, read SLAPP44’s post and have sense. Below is what government said and Maersk also confirmed it. Nobody ever said ships will now berth in onitsha. Anybody expecting Maersk ships to berth in onitsha ports must really be crazy to be honest.

“We do however offer a through bill product for our customers in which cargo discharged at Onne is trucked to the Clarion Depot in Onitsha, which is roughly opposite the Niger River,” Kerry Rosser, Maersk Africa Communication Manager told Tekedia.

I don go through your comments, no need to comment, you be party mighty igor

ogododo:


I wan reply you earlier, but mod no gree me.
The lie be say someone tweeted and posted video of Onitsa being functional. Na de thing I de reject
Make we say things as de are
I go dey happy if it start by 2021, Warri road no go de quick spoil

Oga, Onitsha River Port is Functional. You send container from Guangzhou China and receive it right there in Onitsha( The Ship berths in Onne and barges will carry the ones heading to Onitsha to deliver it to you.)

omenka:
Very stupid comment as usual. This is the type you seek out to believe.

When a good news from thisday, vanguard, punch, guardian, channels, or any other reputable media breaks, you would become uncontrollably angry and would seek out another report, be it from ogogoro.com, that says it is false. You don't mind creating a site yourself, writing the article and publishing it on the site yourself, then copy and paste the article from the useless site on nairaland.

I do hope that the bad news you seek out all the time and always desire remain the situation of things be your portion all the time.

You're a pathetic creature honestly.

Which one come be ogogoro.com

If you want to be sad be sad but don't blame PMB for your bad choices.

Pentagon007:

Oga, Onitsha River Port is Functional. You send container from Guangzhou China and receive it right there in Onitsha( The Ship berths in Onne and barges will carry the ones heading to Onitsha to deliver it to you.)

Until 2021