By Johnson Okoye, ACA
The Onitsha River Port, long seen as the sleeping giant of Nigeria’s South-East trade network, roared back to life this month as the first barge of 2025, MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA, berthed to cheers and renewed hope. This milestone carries the clear imprint of a man whose foresight turned rusting infrastructure into a thriving trade hub, Dr. George Moghalu.
As Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) from 2019 to 2023, Moghalu’s leadership transformed the long-idle port into a beacon of economic opportunity. His bold concessioning reforms and infrastructure revival efforts ensured that Onitsha Port would not just reopen but operate as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to congested and costly road transport.
For decades, the port was a symbol of wasted potential. Today, it is a gateway to prosperity, cutting transport costs, easing road congestion, creating jobs, and giving South-East traders a competitive edge. The arrival of MV ZUPITOR/MV RB ALASKA is not just a shipment; it is a symbol of Moghalu’s enduring legacy. Though his tenure at NIWA ended in 2023, every vessel that docks in Onitsha stands as living proof that when leadership is anchored in vision and executed with resolve, progress becomes unstoppable.
Now, as Dr. George Moghalu seeks the mandate to serve as Governor of Anambra State, Ndi Anambra have every reason to expect the same foresight, discipline, and results-driven leadership he demonstrated at NIWA. He has shown capacity, not in promises, but in tangible achievements that speak for themselves.
From restoring a long-dead port to driving nationwide inland waterways reforms, Moghalu has proven he can turn dormant potential into thriving reality. As governor, he promises to replicate that same model of action, reviving key industries, unlocking economic opportunities, delivering people-oriented infrastructure, and ensuring that Anambra’s resources work for the people, not against them.
Central to his agenda is security. Moghalu understands that no meaningful development can happen in an atmosphere of fear. He has pledged to overhaul all security outfits in Anambra, adopting a modern, technology-driven, community-focused security architecture that will restore peace in every town and village. With a secured environment, investors, local and foreign, will have the confidence to bring their businesses, industries, and opportunities to Anambra, creating jobs and driving prosperity across the state.
The South-East does not just have a port again, it has a proven leader ready to steer Anambra into a future of sustainable growth, safety, and prosperity. With Dr. George Moghalu at the helm, Ndi Anambra can be confident that the tide of progress will keep rising and no force will be able to hold it back.
With George Moghalu, Anambra Ga Adị Mma Ozo. This is the man whose bold vision revived the Onitsha River Port, created jobs, cut transport costs, and proved that leadership is about results, not excuses. As Governor, he will overhaul security to restore peace, attract investors, and unlock prosperity in every corner of our state. Let us support the man with bold vision, not the one that talks too much without results.