DREDGING OF THE LOWER RIVER NIGER….ANOTHER NATIONAL WASTE? By Philip Nwelih

DREDGING OF THE LOWER RIVER NIGER….ANOTHER NATIONAL WASTE? By Philip Nwelih

Nigerians can attest to the fact that the framework for the dredging of the River Niger had been on the National Rolling Plan since 1963, few years after the nation`s independence from Britain.

Successive regimes appeared to lack the political or financial will to actualize the project which will span from Warri in Delta State to Baro, Niger State.

But forty-six years after, December 1, 2008 to be precise, the former Minister of Works and Transport, Deziani Allison-Madueke endorsed the paper work, signalling the federal government`s commitment to actualizing the much anticipated dredging.

The framework for that historic signing was actually done in 1996, when the Military Government endorsed the dredging project, covering 572 kilometers from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State; as well as the construction of three River Ports in Lokoja, Idah and Baro.

After series of documentation, hydrographic survey on the marine environment to establish sea, lake and river-bed levels as they relate to water surface levels at a particular time and community sensitization, late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua formally flagged off the project in Lokoja, Kogi State, with candid assurance that Nigeria will greatly benefit from the project.

At the event, which I witnessed in Lokoja, President Yar Adua said over thirty-six billion naira (=N=36billion) would be expended on the dredging project, which will among other things enhance water transportation, reduce pressure on our highways, provide cheaper means of transport, boost fishing, tourism and recreation, as well as provide employment, water supply and improve the economic potentials of shoreline communities.

The riverside communities spanned thirty-seven Local Government Areas in eight states namely: NIGER, KOGI, DELTA, ANAMBRA, BAYELSA, IMO, EDO and RIVERS.

PROJECT

With an estimated thirty-six billion naira and a three year time lime, the much anticipated project was assigned to four reputed firms, to dredge portions from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State in the first phase.

For ease of work, the work was split into five lots…Jamata in Kogi State to Onitsha, Anambra State being two of the lots.

In the first year, the narrow paths of the River Niger were to be expanded by a hundred meters wide on the top and sixty meters on the bottom, with two-point-five-meters below the chart plane. This, according to experts, was to provide safe channel for vessels when the water level drops in the later part of the year. Thereafter, two years would be dedicated for maintenance work, to free the water channel of any residue.

SUPERVISION

The project of course was managed and supervised by the Ministry of Works and Transport, with the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA), Lokoja, Kogi State providing the necessary framework.

Determined to ensure the success of the project, the Federal Government deployed a dynamic administrator, Mrs Florence Chinwe Ezenwa from the Ministry of Transport to head NIWA as Acting Managing Director. Within five months, (January 2009 to June 1, 2009) Mrs Ezenwa reinvigorated the near comatose Authority, given personnel the professional focus. She was however replaced by Alhaji Ahmed Aminu Yar Adua in June, 2009, and assigned the Coastal Ports Administration Unit of the Ministry of Transport, which by extension will supervise the dredging.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

After the celebrated launch, exchanges, and media hypes, how far has the project advanced?

Has it been abandoned by the Federal Government?

Are Nigerians benefiting from the gains listed as reasons for embarking on the over 36 billion naira project?

Did the contractors execute the job according to specification?

Has vessels started ferrying people along the dredged path or has water transportation began/improved?

Has socio-economic activities improved in the shore line communities?

Did the recent flood disaster in parts of Nigeria leave any negative impact on the project?

Has the pressure been reduced on our deplorable highways?

It is on record that the Lower River Niger will be navigable all the year round after the dredging. But is the maintenance dredging exercise being executed?

Why is the federal government suddenly so silent about the multi-million naira project, considering the fun-fare that greeted its launch?

Is it another white elephant project; if so how do we regain the loss and possibly sanction those that initiated the “unviable” project?

Was the Commissioning of the Onitsha River Port by President Goodluck Jonathan on August 30, 2012, part of the project?

Is NIWA adequately staffed and financed to effectively supervise the project and ensure its benefits are derived?
How relevant is the enabling law establishing the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA to its operations and modern day Nigeria?

Above all, is the over 36 billion naira Lower River Niger dredging project another NATIONAL WASTE?

Please give me answers to these prying questions if you have them.