It was jubilation galore at the Onitsha Port, Anambra State, on Monday when the first barge for the 2025 season-MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA berthed at the port.
The General Manager of Universal Elysium Limited—the concessionaire of the Port, Mr. Chris Mbonu, and other stakeholders who received the barge, could not hide their excitement, with the General Manager describing the berthing of the barge with general cargo as a positive milestone and a reminder of a pressing infrastructural gap.
Speaking with newsmen, he said operations at the port were ongoing but they remained largely seasonal, with activities peaking only during the rainy season when the River Niger’s water level rises sufficiently to allow vessel movement.
He clarified that the seasonal operation was not due to lack of infrastructure or demand, rather it was due to the inconsistency of dredging and channel management of the River Niger.
