Oguta Seaport Complex Rots

By Alao Abiodun 3 Dec 2019

In the time past, the Oguta Seaport was full of commercial activities, as vessels from Liverpool in England and other European countries sailed to the port for businesses. At a point, things became awry. CHRIS NJOKU reports that the Federal Government has plans to revitalise the abandoned project.

National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Managing Director George Moghalu is not happy. No thanks to the state of the Oguta seaport, which in the 50s, was playing host to vessels from Liverpool and other countries.


He noted that Oguta Port, which was connected to River Niger, was used by the European mercantile companies to move palm produce, oil and gas, agricultural products, natural resources to other parts of the countries and Europe.

These days, such beehive is a shadow of itself as the port is no longer functional to encourage economic activities.

Moghalu, who visited the complex at Osse Motto in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State recently was worried that the modernised complex began 10 years ago by the late President Musa Yar’ Adua administration to replace the colonial warehouses that are now in a deployable state.

The Managing Director, who was there to access the level of rot as a result of the abandonment of the Oguta Port said: “We recall that vessels were coming from Liverpool to Oguta River Port in the 50s and I ask what is happening now, why are they not doing the same thing now? What is the problem? That is why we are here to restore the businesses.”

He expressed shock at the level of decay and abandonment at the complex.

“I have seen the level of work at the port and it is clear that the work has been abandoned.

A visit to the place showed that all construction work has come to a halt. Since the stoppage of work at the complex, structures at the seaport have been decaying fast.”

“Investigation also showed that the complex had been overtaken by weeds, rodents and reptiles with the buildings particularly one storey administrative blocks had been vandalised by hoodlums. It was also observed that wind had blown off the roofs of the administrative building while termites have eaten all the wooden structures at the complex.

“The port has no fence and that has made it porous and exposed to danger and vandalisation.

There is need to build a fence and protect the businesses and investors’ money,” Moghalu said.

Experts estimated that the Federal Government might have lost billions of naira to vandals and would also require billions to put it to use as the government has to start afresh to build the port again.

Sources at NIWA told The Nation that the Federal Government would require nothing short of N5 billion to bring the port to live and completed.

The source said the Federal Government would have been raking in at least N500, 000 every day as revenue had the port been functional over the years it had lied fallow.

“Assuming we are making N500, 000 every day, we would have made N168, 000,000 in a year. And for the 10 years the port had remained abandoned, the government has lost billions of naira as revenue,” a top NIWA official who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to comment on the matter said.

It was gathered that the project was awarded to an indigene of Osse Motto to execute, but according to our finding, the contractor could not continue the project due to lack of funds which he said was a major reason for none completion of the contract he began 10 years ago.

The contractor, Ogbuagu Gogo Wakuche told The Nation that he was willing to continue the project if money would be made available to him.

“I have been handling the project, but work stopped because I was not paid as at when due. I will continue if funds are released,” he said.

General Manager, Public Relations, Tayo Fadile said though the contractor has complained of funds, he did not see it as enough reason to abandon such project whose benefit cannot be quantified.

“The project is something his people will benefit from and still he cannot do it even though he had complained of not been paid as at when due.”

He said the project has been abandoned for too long, which has led to unbridled vandalisation.

“As it stands, virtually everything has to be started afresh due to the level of destruction,” he said.

He further said the concept of the project was to go with Onitsha, Baru and Lokoja “which are the four ports designed to go with the dredging of the River Niger so that when goods are moved from Oguta to Onitsha, it will easily be transported to far North through Lokoja. That was the concept,” he said.

It is shocking to discover that Oguta has a rail line which was designed to run to Lokoja.

“Oguta has a rail line to move goods to Baru and Lokoja and to other parts of the North, ” he said.

The news that the port would be resuscitated gladdened the hearts of those indigenous to the area.

Some members of the community who spoke with The Nation said they were excited when they heard that the Federal Government would resuscitate the river port.

But they said they are not sure of government’s commitment to complete the project since it was not the first time government official would visit the port.

They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to fulfill its promise as several visits in the past have not yielded any positive result to resuscitate the project.

An indigene of the area that identified himself as Jude narrated how the port was beneficial to people from all over the country that came to do businesses, especially palm oil business.

Some also said from the Oguta River Port, it was easier for people to export their agricultural products to other towns across the country.

A community leader, Henry Okafor, who was a regent of the community said: “In the past, when we brought palm oil, many companies would come here and buy them off and keep in their various warehouses and finally load them into their vessels which would then move towards Rivers State and to the high sea and then moved possibly to Europe.

“As of then, we had so many Igbo top businessmen and women from other states that had their warehouses here. They were buying and selling to white people. So, when the palm oil business collapsed, the port was affected.

“The late President Yar’ Adua saw reasons why inland waterways should be developed. The inland waterways connect the states to the high sea. For us to mitigate the traffic on our roads it has become necessary to have our inland waterways functional so that vessels could carry more goods compared to other means of transportation.”

He regretted that the Federal Government abandoned the project for too long which he said caused the vandalisation.

He said: “If you abandon a house for a very long time, termites and animals will destroy them. If the breeze blows, it will uproot the roof. Over 80 per cent of vandalisation occurred because the project was abandoned.

The traditional ruler, Eze Franklin Okafor, expressed his joy that the government would resuscitate the port which he said would provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

He said the importance of the port cannot be over-emphasised as it would open the community to the outside world as was the case during the colonial era when the area was a trading axis for European merchants.

“The Federal Government will also earn revenue to sustain other projects across the country,” he said.

https://www.thenationonlineng.net/oguta-seaport-complex-rots/amp/

These are barges. It moves as much goods as much as ships. But hateful idiot called udechihd will always come here to spew rubbish

BeijinDossier:
These are barges. It moves as much goods as much ship. But hateful idiot called udechihd will always come here to spew rubbish

Good, you're showing this barges. I mentioned ships, never knew that barges could be this large. At least you've cured my ignorance on this one.
Can such barges contain like 300 containers at once.

Onne, Warri, Onitsha are the major Rivers ports in Nigeria. That's why the FG is paying greater attention to them.

[s]

UdechiHD:
Good, you're showing this barges. I mentioned ships, never knew that barges could be this large. At least you've cured my ignorance on this one.
Can such barges contain like 300 containers at once.

[/s]


You don't know because bigotry and hate has blinded you that much. Remove hate and bigotry from yourself and you will start seeing clearly. Otondo

NaijirianKing:
People can have a code of conduct and use it for many things. Like you said, Islamic extremist use their code for one thing, while others may use their code for another.

Igbos merely need a code of conduct towards Igbo Empowerment. That's the parallel.

Groups with a strong code will defeat groups without or with a weaker code of conduct. That's the point

My statement is that I do not disagree with the premise of your statement, now that we have successfully divorced it from the Spanish Inquisition example.

I still believe you should put that in the background however, since the code itself does not feed people. But there is no need to argue that point. We will likely never come to agree on it. Long story short, I agree that there is utility in a code. Whether or not it will help you win is a different story, but it can always prove useful in one way or another.

mr11:
where is Ndokwaland on this map?

IGBOID GROUPS FROM RIVERS NOT INCLUDED.


THE MAP IS NOT COMPLETE

UdechiHD:
The two Niger Bridges has reduced the potential size of ships that will berth at Onitsha port.
It's unwise to hinge the industrial effort of the SE to just a small river port that may become costly to import goods as well as provide bonded warehouse for containers due to the land space. Even if we're going to demolish houses to create space for the project, we'll talking about billions of naira's in compensation. If such funds is used for an alternative project such the Oguta port or the Azumini deep sea, it would be beneficial in the long run?

There is need for the SE to boast Oguta to a world class sea port. The area have got large space to contain a world class project and is just a few kilometres to Onitsha. Even the Azumini river can be considered and dredged by the government as another viable option for the SE.

IT MY OPINION DAT WAT IS WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL.


IF WE ARE BUILDING PORT IN ONITSHA, IT SHOULD BE LIKE PORTS FOUND ANYWHERE IN LAGOS OR RIVERS.


IT DOES NOT STOP FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF PORTS IN OGUTA TO SERVE IMO STATE OR ONE IN ABIA TO SERVE NDI ABIA.


ONITSHA PORT WILL ALWAYS BE VIABLE DUE TO MASSIVE AND EXPANDING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS SERVING ANAMBRA AND ENUGU STATE.


ENUGU AND NSUKKA MAY BENEFIT FROM DRY LAND PORT.

mr11:
where is Ndokwaland on this map?

Ndokwa is represented by Aboh there.
Aboh is the traditional headquarters of Ndokwa clan, though the Ukwuani people are challenging that today, since the rise in prominence of Kwale (Utagba uno) and Obiaruku.

pazienza:


Ndokwa is represented by Aboh there.
Aboh is the traditional headquarters of Ndokwa clan, though the Ukwuani people are challenging that today, since the rise in prominence of Kwale (Utagba uno) and Obiaruku.

WHERE IS IKWERE AND OTHER IGBOID GROUPS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF OHANAEZE?


MAP IS NOT COMPLETE.

BeijinDossier

I'm impressed by those your transportation by barges picture.
Very impressive. It means that Oguta and Obuaku will not be hampered by the bridges of the East-West road. Same as Onitsha.
We have to open up all parts of Igboland.

Onitsha greater City will grow to become the biggest economy zone in West Africa neck deep in healthy economic competition with Enyimba industrial city that will be powered by the Obuaku port.

The future is Bright for Alaigbo.

NaijirianKing:
I would simply say, study the Moorish occupation of Europe. Then study how systematic racism was started and you will see my point.

My point is that they were able to do these things because they had a code of conduct.

I teach history at a University in Atlanta, Georgia, so there may be information I take for granted, but if you study it, you'll see what I'm saying is true. The Spanish Inquisition was about taking power from the Black Moors and putting it into the hands of the European tribes.

The point is that they had an agenda, and every member of society got on board with it. Igbo people can take this same model.

I would say read a book titled "The Blacks Who Ruled Europe" by Ronoko Rashidi for context.

THIS BLACK MOORS I KEEP HEARING ABOUT, WHERE DEY AFRICANS OR MIDDLE EASTERN?


AFRICANS AS IN BLACK OR MIDDLE EASTERN AS WE HAVE IN NORTH AFRICA TODAY?

hammerU:


WHERE IS IKWERE AND OTHER IGBOID GROUPS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF OHANAEZE?


MAP IS NOT COMPLETE.

Look very well, Ikwerreland and Ekpeye are covered by Obigbo in the map, while ONELGA is part of Aboh. Etche and Omuma LGAs.
That's the entire Igboid covered.

Yes, there is a little issue of Isobos in Cross River and the Ezza/Izzi clan in Benue. But their lands have not been well mapped out yet.

BeijinDossier:
[s]


[s]You don't know because bigotry and hate has blinded you that much. Remove hate and bigotry from yourself and you will start seeing clearly. Otondo[/s]

I don't claim to be perfect or extremely intelligent. It has always been my belief that only huge sea vessels can carry containers. And in the Onitsha case, my fear arose from the two bridges across the water.
So mr man stop saying trash. I'm ignorant about barges. Carry your bigotry out of my way.

mr11:
where is Ndokwaland on this map?

Ndokwa what?

The Code does feed people, literally and figuratively.

Osagyefo98:



Ndokwa what?

I'm not talking to low life like you.

mr11:
I'm not talking to low life like you.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Let us wait to see the map first then we will make our inputs accordingly on the said map.

pazienza:


Ndokwa is represented by Aboh there.
Aboh is the traditional headquarters of Ndokwa clan, though the Ukwuani people are challenging that today, since the rise in prominence of Kwale (Utagba uno) and Obiaruku.

oh sorry I did not see aboh there before but I have clear my eyes well to see it.

pazienza:


Ndokwa is represented by Aboh there.
Aboh is the traditional headquarters of Ndokwa clan, though the Ukwuani people are challenging that today, since the rise in prominence of Kwale (Utagba uno) and Obiaruku.

I believe strongly that's these guys should be left in Niger Delta. That's the right thing to do.

Geographically it is the right thing....Mid-West.

Interesting.

hammerU:



THIS BLACK MOORS I KEEP HEARING ABOUT, WHERE DEY AFRICANS OR MIDDLE EASTERN?


AFRICANS AS IN BLACK OR MIDDLE EASTERN AS WE HAVE IN NORTH AFRICA TODAY?

Osagyefo98:



I believe strongly that's these guys should be left in Niger Delta. That's the right thing to do.

Geographically it is the right thing....Mid-West.

Igboland was never divided by River Niger. It was united by it.
Western Igbos now called Anioma existed in same colonial Political structure as Ndiigbo in SE until in 1938 when Bourdillion Bernard divided Southern Nigeria into two, and decided to put Anioma in same Union with Yorubas in Western region.
Geographically. There is no difference between an Oguta man in IMO state and an Ogume man in Ndokwa East of Delta. They are neighbors and speak same dialect of Igbo language. There is no difference between An Atani, Akili Ogidi, Akili Ozizzor people in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra state and their Akarai brothers in Ndokwa East and West of Delta state. Same Language, same culture, same worldview, same thing.

So I don't know the geography you speak of.

However, if they choose to stay independent out of their own volition, then so be it, but let it be known that the geography argument is not tenable.

Interesting.

hammerU:



THIS BLACK MOORS I KEEP HEARING ABOUT, WHERE DEY AFRICANS OR MIDDLE EASTERN?


AFRICANS AS IN BLACK OR MIDDLE EASTERN AS WE HAVE IN NORTH AFRICA TODAY?

[s]

UdechiHD:
I don't claim to be perfect or extremely intelligent. It has always been my belief that only huge sea vessels can carry containers. And in the Onitsha case, my fear arose from the two bridges across the water.
So mr man stop saying trash. I'm ignorant about barges. Carry your bigotry out of my way.

[/s]


Mechionu nsi gi there. Frustrated useless hateful bigot. Otondo

NaijirianKing:
The first North Africans were all black. Arabs invaded only in recent history.


Africa used to be "all black", however people we now call Arabs invaded due to their inhospitable environment, living in a desert. They saw Africa as a paradise compared to their home, so they invaded and the invaders decided to stay, many took Black African women as wives and created offspring who resembled the invader and the indigenous people.

I'm referring to the time when North Africa was Black. Many West Africans used to live in North Africa, but moved further south due to these constant invasions from the Arabian peninsula. Fulani for example used to, and some still do, live in North Africa but migrated further south settling in various places including modern day Guinea.

But I read that traditionally Caucasoid clans like the Berbers also called Amazigh have been indigenous inhabitants of North Africa before the coming of Arabs.
Moreover, many North Africans we call Arabs actually don't consider themselves Arabs. Tribal groupings exist. They are only united by Islam which uses Arabic as official written language.

NaijirianKing:
The Code does feed people, literally and figuratively.

The Code is about getting power. With power all things can be taken.

The definition of "power" is two-fold.

1. Having a defined goal, and
2. Having the ability to get to said desired goal.

If feeding the masses is one of the goals of the Code, then with power it can be done.

The Code is all about Igbo Empowerment. The same way Europe went from being one the poorest continents, to now requiring you to have a visit to enter is due to power. I'm laying out how Europe went from last to first, we would be wise to study their movements and replicate them where possible. To be a champion, you study champions.

Yeah, I definitely do not agree with that. It sounds like you skipped the step of building sustainability and are talking about a post-established complex. People only willingly partake in what you are talking about when their bellies are full. In my eyes, the masses are running on empty stomachs, and you want them to care about some code? I personally do not see how that makes sense, unless your code only applies to a limited number of people of affluence (whose bellies are conveniently full). At which point, I can understand how you achieve your empowerment objective, but if this is about getting the masses on board as the first or main objective, then I guess this is the axis where our points of view will become irreconcilable.

pazienza:
BeijinDossier

I'm impressed by those your transportation by barges picture.
Very impressive. It means that Oguta and Obuaku will not be hampered by the bridges of the East-West road. Same as Onitsha.
We have to open up all parts of Igboland.

Onitsha greater City will grow to become the biggest economy zone in West Africa neck deep in healthy economic competition with Enyimba industrial city that will be powered by the Obuaku port.

The future is Bright for Alaigbo.

This is what I have been saying for years but unfortunately a lot of Ndigbo bought into the whole landlocked propaganda. This is the Information Age, any igbo person who still subscribe to old Nigerian propagandas against igbos before the internet will remain a fool forever.

Aboh as the headquarters of Igbo slaves in Sierra Leone. @M11

https://www.nairaland.com/997451/early-colonial-views-igbos-yorubas#up

The Ibos, or 'Eboes' of American tales, are even more divided; still they
feel and act upon the principle 'Union is strength.' This large and savage
tribe, whose headquarters are at Abo, about the head of the Nigerian
delta, musters strong at Sá Leone; here they are the Swiss of the
community; the Kruboys, and further south the Kabenda-men being the
'Paddies.' It is popularly said that while the Aku will do anything for
money, the Ibo will do anything for revenge. Both races are astute in the
extreme and intelligent enough to work harm. Unhappily, their talents
rarely take the other direction. In former days they had faction-fights:
the second eastern district witnessed the last serious disturbance in
1834. Now they do battle under the shadow of the law. 'Aku constables will
not, unless in extreme cases, take up their delinquent countrymen, nor
will an Ebo constable apprehend an Ebo thief; and so on through all the
different tribes,' says the lady 'Resident of Sierra Leone.' If the
majority of the jury be Akus, they will unhesitatingly find the worst of
Aku criminals innocent, and the most innocent of whites, Ibos, or Timnis
guilty. The Government has done its best to weld all those races into one,
and has failed. Many, however, are becoming Moslems, as at Lagos, and this
change may have a happier effect by introducing the civilisation of
El-Islam.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18506/18506-8.txt

Interesting.

pazienza:


But I read that traditionally Caucasoid clans like the Berbers also called Amazigh have been indigenous inhabitants of North Africa before the coming of Arabs.
Moreover, many North Africans we call Arabs actually don't consider themselves Arabs. Tribal groupings exist. They are only united by Islam which uses Arabic as official written language.

Interesting.

NaijirianKing:
Once again, the code is for situations exactly like the one you just described.

During African rule of Europe, the Europeans were diseased, hungry, poor and dirty, while the Africans lived in opulence. The story is different today because the starving poor European got on code with their empowerment.

They were so successful that they even made it to our shores and colonized us. So they went from being poor starving masses ruled over by Blacks, to becoming the ones in rulership.

If lowly poor, starving Europeans could pull such a turnaround, Igbo can likewise put themselves in rulership.

We first have to answer the questions:

1. Who is Igbo (this is one of the most politicized issues we as Igbo have) we need to answer this, then close the door forever to those who say they are not with us.

2. What responsibilities come from being Igbo (for example Europeans don't fight themselves for the benefit of outsiders, Igbo should take on this mantra, that Igbo cannot cheat, harm, or publicly fight another Igbo for the benefit of another tribe.)

3. Lastly, what is the overall Igbo goal objective (Igbo Empowerment, meaning, in any and every action public or private we ask ourselves, how is this adding power to those classified as Igbo, and we collectively fight and resist anything designed to take power away from Igbo.)

This is what the Europeans did and continue to do till this day, and no surprise they are still in rulership.

You can see from the pictures below how messed up Europe used to be before they created the concept of whiteness and used it as a rally cry to grab power. First from the Blacks of Europe who were in rulership, and then they exported their conquests globally. Europeans are the smallest group on the planet, but since they are united under a code, they could defeat larger groups by staying codified.

The bold is the foundation of it all. Which is why we can never get tired of that debate. Because once it's set, it's set forever.