Economic viability of major river ports in Nigeria in the movement of goods and passengers to the hinterland

Abstract

The Maritime industry has over the years, operated below capacity due largely to the neglect of the fundamental pillars, such as the wheel and spoke conceptual structure of development upon which grassroots economic business and local hinterland transactional exchanges rests on. Lack of a viable Shipping policy framework in place has also complicated the desire to develop the inland waterways operations and management, which is the key and rocky -anchor of the growth and development of an emerging inland waterways and River Ports operations. Ironically, there is a missing link in the economic trade liberalization and commercial transactional linkages and logistical spread connection between major port cities and the hinterland river-ports operations, due largely to the non- development of inland waterways operations in Nigeria. This study used mixed research design method comprised of both survey data and data from secondary sources to investigate the economic viability of selected River ports in Nigeria. It was recommended that, there is need for the government to further fortify these river -ports with clear -cut policies needed up-to-date infrastructural facility to assist to its development and growth. This is because, it will assist to kick-start the efficient inland waterways operation and facilitates economic viability of river -ports operational efficiency of the whole system, as well as strengthen the cabotage operations. It was also recommended that, efforts should be intensified to remove obstacles to safe navigation such as wrecks, derelicts, water hyacinths and other impediments on the waterways of each of the River-Ports at the end.