Mohammed Shosanya
Universal Elysium Consortium Limited,the concessionaires of Onitsha River Port,has formally received its first barge at the port
According to the Managing Director, Dr. George Nwangwu,the barge was fully handled by the crew of Onitsha River Port on Wednesday.
The barge that arrived Onitsha Port is a consignment of tiles from Ajaokuta to Onitsha.
The exercise will a weekly occurrence going forward as the consignees of the goods would now move 600 tons of tiles to Onitsha every week and take 600 tons of clay back to Ajaokuta.
Speaking,the General Manager of Onitsha River Port, Wannes De Wit, also expressed his happiness on reaching this very important milestone.
He said the development helps take more than 70 trucks off the busy roads and this was only possible and achievable because of the higher water level in the river Niger during the rainy season.
This only happens for 6 months in a year due to the low water levels in the Rive Niger during the dry season,he added .
He implored the federal government to dredge the river channel so that goods can be moved through the river channel all year round as this would have immense benefits to the country.