Governor Hope Uzodimma Opens New Frontiers as VP Yemi Osinbajo Set to Flag-off Orashi River Dredging

■THIS IS A GLORIOUS HOUR FOR IMO STATE COURTESY OF GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA

By: Prince Eze Ugochukwu

The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo will on Thursday 11th May, 2023 flag-off the dredging of the Oguta/Orashi waterways to link Imo State to the Atlantic Ocean.

The ceremony will be the first of its kind in South Eastern Nigeria and will herald Governor Hope Uzodimma’s maritime development policy for Imo State.

The need for the dredging of the Urashi River channel is long overdue and offers considerable financial and job opportunities, including great potential for an extremely buoyant maritime industry. The Orashi River is the closest potential seaport we have in Nigeria that will link South Eastern Nigeria to the Atlantic Ocean.

When completed, the project will bring joy to the people, especially those that are into the business of maritime not forgetting the joy of importers who have been yearning for the decongestion of the Lagos port and the bringing of business to the South East of Nigeria. Interestingly, the Lagos seaport is about 60 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean, while the Orashi river is only about 18 nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean.

As the Governor explained, the Government has “decided to partner Nigerian Navy to clean up the channel from Oguta Lake to Orashi river up to the high sea as far as Degema.”

Governor Uzodimma recalled that before the 1960s, bigger vessels were coming to Oguta town to collect produce. “As a matter of fact, the warehouses and the office buildings used by the Royal Niger Company in the 60s are still there,” he said.

Continuing, the Governor said: “By the Grace of God, this administration will partner with Nigerian Navy in the funding and supervision of the project to ensure its success…. “when completed, it will boost the economy of the area and indeed that of the State and Nigeria in general.”

The story behind the dredging of the Orashi River is a very long one. In fact. A study by the administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State on the issue, noted that the South East is not landlocked. “It is only our economy that is locked”.

One quick way of unlocking the economy of the South East is through marine business.
The study indicated that contrary to the impression that the South East is landlocked, the truth is that it has one of the potentially deepest seaports in the country at Osemoto/Oseokwa in Imo and Anambra states. A seaport was designated there in 1959, but the project was abandoned and the admiralty member was erased for obvious political reasons. African Development Bank’s (ADB) feasibility report on this is unambiguous.

It said, “Oseokwa (Ihiala LGA, Anambra State) and Osemoto (Oguta LGA, Imo State) are the deepest natural harbour in the country (over 20m deep) and offer real naval and marine transportation platforms if developed. Besides, it lies only 18 nautical miles from the Atlantic Ocean and is a strategic hub for the oil industry and inland dry docks to promote trade.

Truly, Governor Hope Uzodimma deserves our accolades for ultimately bringing to fruition the long-awaited quest to open up the Orashi water channel into the sea.