BY Ifeinwa obi

The Federal Government had approved the dredging of ports channels in Lagos, Bonny, Calabar to facilitate calls by bigger vessels.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, disclosed this  during the inaugural call of one of Maersk Line’s West Africa Maximum, WAFMAX, vessels to Onne Port Complex in Rivers State.

Abdullahi assured that the NPA will sustain the dredging of all Nigerian port channels to facilitate calls to these facilities by more vessels with bigger draughts
The NPA boss explained that the big ship has capacity for 4,500 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), adding that her Onne call was part of Federal Government’s plans to decongest Lagos ports.

“The NPA management has been on this project since 2007 to decongest Lagos ports and reduce the level of transferring containers to the Eastern part of the country,” he said.
Onne Port, according to him, has in recent times been experiencing relative competition, attracting many investors in the Nigerian maritime sector.

Also speaking, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who assured that henceforth, the port will receive ships from Europe and Asia, noted that this would position Nigeria right in becoming the transport and economic hub of the West and Central Africa subregions.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi, the minister said that the large shipment of goods to the port will reduce the cost of importation and goods.
Umar stated: “The Bonny Channel dug 12 metres  deep will enable international ships with the capacity to carry 4, 500 containers anchor at the Onne Port, thereby boosting economic activities in the area.”