River Niger dredging: Reps to probe NIWA, Van Oord

The House of Representatives has said that it would investigate the dredging of the lower River Niger project which gulped billions of naira before being abandoned, even as it also interest to  also commenced investigation into the establishment of land port in Idah and Jamata in Kogi by Messrs Van Oord Nigeria Limited.

The motion for the investigation was moved by Rep. Benjamin Okolo, representing the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency and was unanimously adopted at the plenary on Wednesday.

Okolo said the project to dredge the lower River Niger was an important and strategic action initiated by the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

According to Maritime First, an online news outfit, Okolo said the project which stretches through 572km, would affect 152 communities on the bank of the River Niger from Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi, Niger and to Rivers.

The law maker said the capital and maintenance for the dredging of 118km from Onitsha to Idah was awarded to Messrs Van Oord Nigeria Limited at the cost of N10.4 billion.

Okolo alleged that the work on the said project never took-off till date.

He said the dredging of 108km from Idah to Jamata which was awarded to the same company at the cost of N13.8 billion, was skeletal.

Okolo said that the project had reached 62 per cent completion as at 2014 but was later abandoned.

The lawmaker said the economic activities that could have been revitalised by the reason of the dredging had remained in comatose, with those who engaged in the economic activities now seriously groaning in frustration.

According to him, the safe alternative means of transporting goods and services through the river and cargoes entering and departing the country which the project was out to achieve was yet to see the light of the day.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara mandated the Committee on Ports  and Waterways to investigate the matter and report to the house within four weeks for further actions.