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The dredging of River Benue and the
development of Makurdi port will commence by 2019 as part of efforts to harness
commercial activities on the Nigerian waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA) has
disclosed.
development of Makurdi port will commence by 2019 as part of efforts to harness
commercial activities on the Nigerian waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA) has
disclosed.
Speaking to newsmen, the Acting
Managing Director of NIWA,
Danladi Ibrahim,
said
that the development of inland waterways system in Nigeria has improved in the
three years.
Managing Director of NIWA,
Danladi Ibrahim,
said
that the development of inland waterways system in Nigeria has improved in the
three years.
According
to him, “from 2015, we have changed the face of Nigerian inland waterways in
the sense that the Organisation has embarked on direct maintenance dredging of
our channels which is a very cheap way of maintaining the waterways unlike the
previous practice.
to him, “from 2015, we have changed the face of Nigerian inland waterways in
the sense that the Organisation has embarked on direct maintenance dredging of
our channels which is a very cheap way of maintaining the waterways unlike the
previous practice.
“We have also completed one of our major port in Baro, and the one in
Lokoja is over 75 per cent completed, besides that we have also put in
programmes for the channel management of the River Niger and Benue.
Lokoja is over 75 per cent completed, besides that we have also put in
programmes for the channel management of the River Niger and Benue.
“Our expectations from the 2018 budget is that
we intend to complete Lokoja port.”
we intend to complete Lokoja port.”
Ibrahim
revealed further that, “we are also going to buy batches to start moving
cargoes from Lagos port to Onitsha and Baro, we are going to buy additional
dredgers to enhance our capacity for in-house maintenance dredging of the
channels, the ports will be completed before the end of the year, as soon as
the budget implementation start, we will swing into action, Onitsha has been
concessioned already, so operations will start any moment from now.”
revealed further that, “we are also going to buy batches to start moving
cargoes from Lagos port to Onitsha and Baro, we are going to buy additional
dredgers to enhance our capacity for in-house maintenance dredging of the
channels, the ports will be completed before the end of the year, as soon as
the budget implementation start, we will swing into action, Onitsha has been
concessioned already, so operations will start any moment from now.”
He added that “We
will also complete Oguta port in Imo state before the end of the year, the port
is 70 percent completed, so we are looking at Lokoja and Oguta ports to be
completed in 2018, but in 2019 we will commence the development of Makurdi
port”, clarifying that the ports are to be developed in phases.
will also complete Oguta port in Imo state before the end of the year, the port
is 70 percent completed, so we are looking at Lokoja and Oguta ports to be
completed in 2018, but in 2019 we will commence the development of Makurdi
port”, clarifying that the ports are to be developed in phases.
He
reaffirmed that many jobs would be created when the ports become operational.
“When Onitsha, Lokoja and Baro ports come into operation, more than 2000
direct and indirect jobs will be created in the country.”
reaffirmed that many jobs would be created when the ports become operational.
“When Onitsha, Lokoja and Baro ports come into operation, more than 2000
direct and indirect jobs will be created in the country.”
He said that the ports would be connected with rail for
efficient utilisation.
efficient utilisation.
