The dredging of River Niger is paramount to the development of the nation, as it now serves as an alternative to the usually congested Lokoja-Abuja-Benue Road.Yekini Jimoh recently embarked on a fact-finding mission on the River Niger dredging. His report.Niger and Benue are two major rivers in Nigeria, both with huge economic potential. Yet, Nigeria has failed to make use of the two rivers in terms of water transportation and other economic advantages they offer. It was in this regard that thesigning of the contract for the dredging of the Lower River Niger by the administration of the late President Umaru Yar'Aduain December, 2008 was seen as a bold step in the right direction.According to statistics, the River Niger was last dredged over 30 years ago.Though no appreciable impact was made on the project ever since, it was rather the late president who took the bull by the horns by making good his promise to carry on with the dredging of the Lower Niger to make the river navigable all year round.The major objective of the Lower River Niger Dredging is to ensure that navigational channel is kept open throughout the year with sustainable improvement in water-borne transport in Nigeria. As envisaged by government, the dredging of the Lower River Niger will deliver numerous socio-economic benefits to the affected communities and, indeed, the entire country. Therefore, in September 2009, the late president (Yar'Adua) kicked-off the dredging of the Lower Niger and since then, there has been steady progress on the job.Today, with the determination of the current administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the River Niger, stretching from Baro in Niger State through Lokoja in Kogi State to the South-South has been fully dredged.This means that one could sail conveniently from Niger to Bayelsa unhindered.The dredging exercise had affected no fewer that 510 communities in eight states of the federation. The states include Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Imo, Edo, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa. The project was said to have been hastened due to the cooperation of all the affect state governors and the host communities.During the inauguration exercise, the management of the National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) said environmental impact assessment was conducted and measures were taken to cushion the effect of degradation on the environment.Speaking withGamji recently, the Managing Director of NIWA, Architect Ahmed Yar'Adua, said with the completion of the dredging work on the River Niger, investors could now conveniently convey their goods in large quantity at a very cheap rate.To ensure that the dredged channels are navigable all year round, there must be constant use of the water. During a tour of the water channel, NIWA Acting General Manager, Marine, Mr. O. O. Balogun, called on companies to begin to use the waterways, which are safer and more affordable in term of cost. He noted that large quantity of goods could be transported easily and cheaply, using the waterways. In addition, he said this would help to decongest the roads and prolong their life span.Speaking on the advantages of the dredged Lower River Niger, Ahmed Yar'Adua, said, in addition to the all-year round navigation and reduction in the cost of mass transportation of bulk cargo, a boost in the network of transport modes and the opening up of the sector for public private partnership,the dredgedchannel would create an aquatic highway which would attract more activities in terms of conveyance of goods and persons through the water.He added that, with increased shipping activities along the dredged Lower River Niger, many adjoining communities will experience increased economic activities.This, he noted, will have a spillover effect of improving commercial activities on the coastal line, thereby generating employment opportunities, especially around the ports.Still on the advantages, Yar'Adua noted that carrying goods on a dredged channel is also safer since the chances of accident are slim, saying that 'it is a well documented fact that water-borne transport has been proved to be the most economical, energy-efficient and environmental friendly.'He listed other advantages to include the preservation of the Nigerian roads, thereby reducing cost of maintenance, promotion of tourism activities and related leisure and hospitality services on the waterways mostly in the affected communities.He said with the completion of the dredging of the Lower Niger, movement of goods, like cement from Obajana Cement Company, would be a lot easier. This, according to him, will reduce the pressure on the roads, thereby reducing the cost of maintenance on the roads.The Managing Director ofNIWA, said that, said now that the Lower River Niger had been dredged and is ready for commercial use, all steps had been taken to ensure the safety of lives and property.'Continuous reliance on our roads to move this cargo would put severe strain on our transport system, if not almost crippling it. Nigerian roads will enjoy some stability, when water transportation is improved with the dredged River Niger since the carrying capacity on waters is higher,' he said.Yar'Adua added that for the benefit of the dredged river to be fully enjoyed by the people of Nigeria, the channel must be constantly put in use to ensure that it is not blocked, saying government has invested heavily in the project.He particularly noted that movements in the December period could be a lot easier, using the River Niger, especially those moving from the northern parts to the South-South and South-East of the country.In spite of the advantages of using the dredged channel as stated above, experts have however postulated that,in addition to the dredging, NIWA must ensure the safety of humans and goods on its waterways from water pirates. According to the views of some experts on the viability of the waterways as a means of transportation, they said that though water is most affordable as a means of transport, safety of those who use it must be guaranteed.When contacted, the management of NIWA said it has acquired 12 gunboats at the cost of $4.860 million as part of its efforts to secure its waterways and make it safer for water transportation in the country.On how to ensure that the attention of the public is drawn to the new development in the transport sector, Yar'Adua said NIWA is already working with some private companies to ensure the effective use of the dredged river Niger which, according to him, is now navigable round the year.The Managing Director added that his organisation is making frantic efforts to acquire its own passenger boat, noting that the journey from Lokoja to Onitsha through the water will take about two and a half hours only.While calling on private establishments to invest in water transportation, the Managing Director said NIWA was targeting the Christmas and New Year periods, which usually saw congestions on the Abuja-Lokoja roads, owing to the volume of traffic on the roads, to commence operation.
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