Stakeholders want FG to dredge Onne port channel to boost vessel operations

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Seaport Chapter, has called on the Federal Government to approve the dredging of the channel leading to Onne port, in a bid to improve vessel throughput.

This was as the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), recently announced plans to dredge the channel leading to the Lekki Deep Seaport.

Ifeanyi Isikaku, Chairman of ANLCA, Onne Seaport Chapter, in a statement, said that Onne Port, with a draft of approximately 12 meters, is in need of dredging, compared to Lekki Seaport, which currently has a draft of 16 meters.

The largest vessel to call at the Onne port was the Kota Carum, flying the Singaporean flag, which came to berth at the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), Onne Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), on April 16, 2025.

The mega container vessel, measuring 301.43 metres in length, with a capacity of 6,606 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), is owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL).

Experts in the Eastern ports have said that dredging of the channels into Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri ports would allow larger vessels to call at the ports.

Isikaku stated, while calling for adequate media reportage of freight, shipping and other maritime activities at the Onne port.

Read also: Onne port welcomes direct shipping route linking Nigeria to Europe and Asia

He frowned at “persons that visit Onne Seaport once in a while, but continue to demarket the seaport, making unfounded allegations on freight differential, insecurity and low activities, among others.”

Isikaku added that stakeholders such as ANLCA who relate with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), DSS, Terminal Operators and other agencies at the port, are the ones that can give correct and adequate information on what is happening at the port on daily basis.

He described the B’Odogwu system recently launched by the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Area II Command, as a right step in the right direction.

Isikaku said B’Odogwu would enhance their operations as freight forwarders, adding that the freight forwarder can use his laptop or mobile phone to carry out his job at any point.

He added that the B’Odogwu exercise would provide faster and efficient service delivery for both the Customs and freight forwarders, compared to the previous Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICISS II).

Isikaku further noted stakeholders’ opposition to the launch of the E-callup exercise at Onne Seaport by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), adding that it was based on the issue of congestion, among others.

He however called on NPA management to carry out more stakeholder engagements before kick-starting the exercise, which NPA said will provide for security of trucks and cargos leaving and entering the port, as well provide accommodation for drivers and car maintenance workshops for fixing of faulty trucks, among others.

The Truck Bay facility according to NPA, will provide for global best practices, thereby reducing road congestion and ensuring adequate monitoring of movements of trucks within the port.