The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman said the Onitsha Port is to be commissioned this month.

Suleiman said that the cargo handling equipment had arrived. He explained that work was also going on in other river ports except Lokoja port where there was litigation.

At the Onitsha port, vessels and barges are expected to start loading and off-loading goods.  The port would also create avenue for clearing and forwarding services.

The Onitsha port was conceived and awarded in 1983 during the regime of President Shehu Shagari buy was abandoned mid-way and materials put in place then were vandalized and dilapidated..

Suleiman said dredging of the River  Niger from Warri to Jamata near Lokoja is 100 per cent ready. He said once the equipments are installed, passenger Ferry Service on the River Niger would begin.

The Minister said the ferry services would reduce the number of people traveling by road, adding that petroleum marketers would also put the river to use in transporting their consignments.

He noted that there was need to hold a stakeholders sensitization forum for the business community along the River Niger.

Suleiman, however, said rent services from Lagos to Jebba would commence this month, explaining that rehabilitation works on the Lagos to Jebba route was 100 per cent completed.

He mentioned that the contract for rehabilitation of rail services from Jebba to Kano would be completed in the next three months.

According to him, before the end of this administration, full train services would start from Jebba to Kano.  He said with this, he had been able to achieve the responsibilities inherited, adding that all these gladdened his heart.