Onitsha Get Seaport After 42 Years

 

Nigeria is a big country in population and land mass. As big as the country is, Lagos Port is the only port the country rely on. Apart from the logjam and congestion the lone port is creating for Lagos, importers are equally feeling the effects. The cost of moving containers from Lagos to the Eastern and other parts of Nigeria is enormous. Many lost their goods to the bad states of roads and other vices apart from the cost implications of selling those goods. These mentioned problems and many others necessitated the yarning for a port in the Southeastern axis of Nigeria some 42 years ago. A lot had actually happened from one government to the others. 

The outcry from many traders and businessmen who import goods to Nigeria from other countries especially among South Easterners that a seaport be commissioned for them in Onitsha Head bridge so to easing the burden and costs involved in shipping goods to Lagos and moving them back to east again. According to many, it will make the price of goods cheaper here in the south eastern and south southern regions as it is in Lagos and other neighboring states who don't need to start transporting their wares to where they will sell.

These prayers and yearnings got answered with the commissioning by President  Buhari today. Immediately after the port was commissioned,  a ship loaded with containers was seen sailing to Onitsha Head bridge where it offloaded all its containers to signal to everyone that the sea port is now in use for the first time in the past 42 years. It is a victory at last journey for the Ndigbos in particular and Nigeria at large.

There was jubilations and happiness in the air with a project many thought was impossible to undertake. Finally, the port is commissioned and operational. Igbo Youths had described the commissioned port a great developmental strides in the Southeast as another demonstration of love by President Muhammadu Buhari's Government to Ndigbo. Meanwhile, the second Naija bridge is still on and great work is being done there and the president equally approved construction of rail to the port from Port Harcourt. This is a demonstration that we are stronger and better together.

Do we need more ports in Nigeria?