By Sunny A. David, Awka

The Onitsha River Port in Anambra State came alive earlier this month as MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA became the first barge to berth for the 2025 season.

Speaking on the milestone, Mr. Chris Mbonu, General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited the port’s concessionaire described the event as a welcome boost but also a stark reminder of Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges.

Mbonu explained that operations at the port are currently seasonal, peaking only during the rainy months when the River Niger’s water level is high enough to allow vessel movement. He stressed that this limitation stems not from a lack of facilities or demand, but from inconsistent dredging and poor channel management of the river.

“The port is capable of operating 365 days a year,” he said. “But without regular dredging of the River Niger, we are restricted to a few months of activity turning a valuable national asset into a seasonal stopgap. A port without a navigable waterway is like a car without fuel.”

He appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, and private stakeholders to make continuous dredging and maintenance of the River Niger a top economic priority.

According to Mbonu, consistent dredging would ensure year round vessel access between Southern seaports and inland commercial centers, lowering transportation costs, easing pressure on highways, reducing delivery delays, and boosting investor confidence.

He noted that the benefits would extend beyond logistics to agriculture, tourism, and industrial development helping farmers move produce faster, encouraging export trade, and enabling efficient movement of raw materials and agro-commodities.

With proper river maintenance, Mbonu said, the Onitsha River Port could evolve into a major multimodal hub, unlocking opportunities across multiple sectors and driving sustainable economic growth.