FG awards contract for Dredging of River Benue – Amaechi

Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi has said that the Federal Government has awarded contract for the dredging of the critical part of River Benue. The Minister who disclosed this at the 2017 budget defence before members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport on Thursday in Abuja, said work will soon commence. 

Amaechi said the project was a fall out of the decision of the Federal Government to maximize the use of the resources of 12 major rivers in the country. He added that the capital dredging of the Lower River Niger from Warri to Baro, covering a distance of 572 kilometers had also commenced. 

Amaechi said Baro River Port had achieved 95 per cent completion, adding that arrangement was being made for the provision of cargo handling equipment and turning of the basin to port. According to him, government has approved the upward review of fees and tariffs for the National Inland Waterways Authority to enable the country look inward and improve its economic base. 

He said the government was determined to encourage a river dependent sustainable economic development through marine transportation. Amaechi said: “The 2017 budget is for economic recovery and growth, therefore, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and its agencies under the 2017 budget seek to consolidate and sustain the achievements and performances recorded in the past years.

Source reportsafrique.com