Onitsha Port Welcomes First Barge of 2025 Season, Stakeholders Push for Year-Round Operations
The Onitsha River Port in Anambra State has officially received its first barge of the 2025 season, signalling renewed activity at one of Nigeria’s key inland waterway hubs.
The vessel, MV Zupitor/MV RB Alaska, arrived at the port to the excitement of traders, port workers and community members, marking the beginning of the annual high-water period when river navigation becomes possible.
Chris Mbonu, General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited, the port’s concessionaire, described the arrival as a major milestone for the year. He noted that the Onitsha Port has the capacity to operate all year round but is limited by the seasonal nature of the River Niger’s water levels. According to him, the situation makes it difficult to move barges between December and July, when water levels drop significantly, restricting navigation.
Mbonu called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and private sector stakeholders to prioritise consistent dredging of the river.
He stressed that with sustained dredging, the port could run operations continuously, reducing dependence on road transport, lowering logistics costs, and easing congestion on Nigeria’s highways.
The concessionaire further highlighted the wider benefits of improving the port’s navigability, including boosting investor confidence, creating opportunities for export, supporting agricultural trade, and promoting tourism and recreation along the River Niger.
Industry experts agree that improved infrastructure and regular dredging could transform the Onitsha Port into a vibrant logistics hub for the South-East and neighbouring regions, creating jobs and enhancing Nigeria’s maritime economy.
If these calls for investment and maintenance are heeded, stakeholders believe the port could not only maintain its seasonal importance but also emerge as a year-round driver of trade and development.
