The Federal Government is now being called upon to facilitate action on the dredging of the River Niger to open the inland waterways for the transportation of goods and movement of people.
The president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Oluuyiwa Ajibola , made the statement at a press briefing before the National Engineering Conference and annual general meeting planned to be held at Tinapa, Cross River State.
Ajibola stated that the River Niger project, worth N36 billion, was planned to take six to eight months, but for two years, only promises that the project will soon be completed have been made.
According to Ajibola nothing so far has illustrated a positive point in the direction of Nigeria’s plan to be one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020. He added that the solution would be the establishment of a ‘National Road Fund’ and the ‘Federal Road Authority’ to undertake the total management of roads across the country and not throwing money at the problem.
Ajibola recommended that a workable rail system would help to decongest and increase the life span of roads. He advised the government to establish the rail sector for investors and support them to build modern high speed railway system in the country.
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Dredging Today Staff, December 2, 2011;