FG purchases N168m ferries to ply River Niger

THE Federal Government has initiated the process of utilising the Lower Niger River for mass transportation with the award of contract for the purchase of two fast moving ferries at the cost of N168 million, following the completion of dredging work on the waterway.This was part of outcome of Wednesday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in the State House, Abuja, where the contract worth N26 billion for the development of the second phase of Kagini district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was also approved.Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, joined by his counterparts in ministries of FCT; Transport; Interior; Science and Technology, Bala Mohammed, Senator Umar Idris, Abba Moro and Professor Ita Ewa respectively, said the government did not want the waterway to remain fallow.He said the ferries, with a capacity of 45 passengers each to be procured by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), would be operated in partnership with the private sector and would move passengers and goods between Warri, Onitsha and Lokoja towns at affordable costs.
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