The multi-billionaire naira Onitsha Port in Anambra State, which is yet to commence operation nearly five months after it was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, is expected to be ready for concession within two weeks.
General Manager of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mike Dike, indicated this last weekend during the visit of the National Good Governance Team to the port.
Dike stated that the port was ready to be concession to the private sector, and that advertisement for concession would be placed within two weeks.
He added that NIWA was awaiting a go-ahead from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
He said that the contract for the N4.6 billion port, which has warehouse capacity for 3.000 40-foot containers, was awarded in 2010 and completed in 2012, as against the 2011 expected date of completion.
Dike said that all the equipment needed for the commencement of operations was available, stating that dredging was an exercise that would continue even after operations commence.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.