Re: Vessels yet to sail dredged River Niger

For instance, your reporter, Shehu Abubakar was on the entourage of the then Honourable Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio, that went on a boat ride from Lokoja to Onitsha to ascertain the true position of the dredging project. Also Usman A. Bello, your reporter in Lokoja is acquainted with the Office of the […]

For instance, your reporter, Shehu Abubakar was on the entourage of the then Honourable Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio, that went on a boat ride from Lokoja to Onitsha to ascertain the true position of the dredging project. Also Usman A. Bello, your reporter in Lokoja is acquainted with the Office of the General Manager (Corporate Affairs) NIWA. He didn’t come to seek clarifications on any of the reported contending issues. If your reporters have sought proper clarifications on these contending issues, there would have been no misrepresentation in the story as a whole.
On the issue of bad access road to Baro River Port, while it is not the duty of NIWA to construct roads nationwide.  Another aspect of your story that was not correct is the false claims by some people that the Lower River Niger was not dredged, especially lot 3 & 4 from Onitsha-Idah to Lokoja. That is not true; the necessary channel of River Niger from Warri-Baro was properly dredged and four contractors were involved.
There is ample evidence to show that the channels were dredged. Vessels have sailed from Lokoja to Onitsha severally and some of the trips were in company of maritime journalists.
The issue of the flood that ravaged the entire country in 2012 was an act of God and NIWA managed it to the best of her ability. There is no doubt that the effect of the floods must have led to siltation along some of the dredged channels. NIWA is already putting together a channel management company that will permanently handle the maintenance dredging of River Niger under a joint venture arrangement to ensure that our rivers are navigable all-year-round.
Concessioning of Onitsha River Port has recorded a remarkable progress. Both the inception report and due diligence have already been completed by the concessioning adviser. The next stage is to advertise for expression of interest by would be concessioners in national newspapers, which is expected to take place before the end of the first quarter of 2015. Therefore, the advert for the concessioners that will soon be published will ask for bids from successful prospective concessioner’s shortlisted from the expression of interest platform.
Hopefully, by the end of second quarter in 2015 a concessioner would have emerged to operate the Onitsha River Port, already studies are ongoing for the other ports in Baro, Lokoja and Oguta by the same concession adviser with a view to bringing on stream for concessioning whichever of the port is completed and ready to be put to use.
Your reporter has a confirmed that engine-powered locally made boats are visible on the River Niger channels. I’m referring to the boats that transport yams between Ndoni to Onitsha, some of which carries up to 20 tons of yams at a time and the operators confirmed that dredging of River Niger have reduced their journeys from between 2 to 3 weeks to less than one week after the dredging. In addition, your confirmation of fishermen fishing on the lower River Niger from your report give credence to the fact that the marine echo system of River Niger was not negatively impacted by the dredging exercise as claimed in some quarters.
We also have on record a Marine Company (Ninon Trans Marine Limited) moving tiles on the waterways with a barge carrying 300 tons of tiles from Ajaokuta to Onitsha, it will ordinarily require 30 (911 trailers) to move the same quantity of goods using the road network.
The Governor of Niger State has also given his assurance to NIWA that appropriate measures will be taken to open up the roads leading to Baro. NIWA has just acquired (4) passenger ferries that will be deployed to various routes on River Niger and 3 security patrol boats has also been acquired last month to further improve safety on our waterways. National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has also through several seminars and workshops encourage stakeholders, private sector to purchase vessels and ferries that will sail on our waterways. The River Niger cannot automatically come on full stream after almost 50 years of inactivity. It will take some time for all the stakeholders to key into the project effectively.
NIWA is proud of her accomplishments as regard its contribution to the growth and development of the inland waterways sub-sector and invite other stakeholders to come on board and to join in the development of our vast inland waterways.
Tayo Fadile, General Manager (Corporate Affairs), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA),Lokoja, Kogi State.