Onitsha Port Comes Alive: First Barge Docks in 2025, Traders Eye Cheaper Transport
- The Onitsha Port came alive recently when it received the first barge in the 2025 season, sparking hope among Igbo traders in the region
- Chris Mbonu, General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the port's concessionaire, called the barge’s berthing a milestone
- Beyond logistics, the ripple effect of a fully operational Onitsha Port could boost agriculture, tourism, and exports
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The Onitsha River Port in Anambra State roared back to life as it received its first barge of the 2025 season, MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA, sparking hope for a new dawn in inland waterway transport.
The arrival stirred optimism among Igbo traders and logistics operators, many of whom have long hoped for the revival of inland waterways as a more cost-effective and efficient trade route.
Source: Getty Images
Seasonal operations still a major setback
Mr. Chris Mbonu, General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the port's concessionaire, called the barge’s berthing a “milestone” and a reminder of what’s still missing—consistent infrastructure support, especially dredging of the River Niger.
While the port is technically functional, its operations remain highly seasonal, dependent on the water levels of the River Niger.
Peak activity only occurs during the rainy season when rising waters make the river navigable for barges and ferries.
“The port is ready to work 365 days a year,” Mbonu said, “but without consistent dredging, we’re reduced to a rainy-season operation.”
He likened the current scenario to owning a well-built car without fuel—it may be roadworthy, but without fuel, it simply won’t run. This limitation prevents the Onitsha Port from becoming the inland logistics hub it is capable of being.
Call for urgent government intervention
Mbonu called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and private stakeholders to prioritise regular dredging and channel maintenance on the River Niger.
This, he stressed, is the only way to unlock year-round navigability and position the port as a major trade artery.
He argued that improved waterway access would reduce logistics costs, ease road congestion, shorten delivery times, and boost investor confidence in inland freight systems.
Massive economic potential lies untapped
Beyond logistics, the ripple effect of a fully operational Onitsha Port could boost agriculture, tourism, and exports.
Mbonu noted that farmers and aggregators could move produce more quickly, and exporters could ship raw materials directly from inland terminals to seaports.
With the right government backing, the port could support a multimodal logistics revolution, connecting rail, road, and river transport in a seamless ecosystem.
Will this be the turning point?
The infrastructure is ready. The demand is visible. What remains is political will and strategic investment to turn the tide.
If consistently dredged and maintained, Onitsha Port could evolve into a year-round economic powerhouse, transforming trade in the South-East and across Nigeria.
Stakeholders now wait to see whether the federal government will take the decisive steps needed to unlock the full economic power of Onitsha Port.
Onne multipurpose terminal welcomes largest container vessel
Legit.ng earlier reported that Rivers State's Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) hosted the largest cargo ship to ever call in its shores, the Kota Carum, at the Onne Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT).
Owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Asia's leading maritime companies, the Singapore-flagged ship arrived at the OMT jetty on Wednesday at 10:30 am and was safely berthed in berths 9 and 10 in 20 minutes.
At 301.43 meters in length, the Kota Corum can transport 6,606 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The ship will spend 55 hours in port, loading 1,619 containers, including empty and export-bound cargo, and unloading 1,250 containers.
Source: Getty Images
Apapa Port receives the world’s largest container vessel
Meanwhile, a previous report by Legit.ng disclosed that Nigeria’s premier port, APM in Apapa, Lagos, has made history after receiving EA Centaurus, the largest vessel to ever visit the port complex.
The vessel, owned by COSCO Shipping Lines, has 7,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), measuring 272 metres in length, 43 metres in width, and has a 14.3-metre draft.
Marincraft disclosed that the ship sails under the Singaporean flag and has left Lagos port en route to Lekki port.
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Source: Legit.ng
